Dec. 13, 2009
STOCKTON, Calif. - Freshman guard Meagan Fulps scored 24 points to lead an inspired Santa Clara team to a 74-69 road win at Pacific Sunday.
Fulps sparked a second-half run and Lena Gipson provided her fifth double-double for Santa Clara (2-7), who had lost a 12-point first-half lead.
"She's an offensive threat every time she touches the ball," Santa Clara head coach Jennifer Mountain said about Fulps, Colorado's 5A `Player of the Year' last season. "She's also getting more comfortable having that role of a scorer. You can really see her developing as a player."
Fulps - who scored 20 points Friday night against Cal State Bakersfield - made one of her three 3s to put SCU up 56-51 with 7:39 left.
The Tigers (1-7) received a team-high 15 points from Kendall Rodriguez, 13 in the first half to help Pacific rally from an early deficit.
Santa Clara made their first four shots, which included two quick 3s by Rhianna Faithfull, en route to scoring the game's first 10 points and leading 15-3.
Two free throws by Rodriguez put Pacific on top for the first time, 27-26, and then she buried a long 3 in the half's closing moments to send the Tigers into the locker room leading 34-31 at halftime.
Trailing 39-33 at the 15:57 mark, Fulps scored Santa Clara's next six points and a jumper by Maggie Goldenberger put the Broncos up for good, 45-44, with 13:48 left.
"We had lost momentum and at halftime talked about being poised and taking back the game," said Mountain. "Our point of emphasis was getting to the boards on both ends of the floor."
SCU had 15 offensive rebounds, five from Gipson who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Goldenberger also cleared 10 rebounds to go along with her 10 points.
Point guard Alyssa Shoji made a pair of timely 3s in the later stages and had 17 - the ninth time in as many games this season she has scored in double figures.
The Broncos are now 9-1 in their last 10 meetings with Pacific. It was the first of three-straight road games for Santa Clara who will play at Minnesota Wednesday and at Boise State Saturday.
