Sophomore Meagan Fulps led the Broncos with 12 points and three rebounds but it was not enough to defeat Fresno State Friday night at the Leavey Center with the Bulldogs winning 74-54. Hayley Munro finished the night with 17 points and six rebounds to led the Bulldogs.
Santa Clara shot 35.6 percent, including 10.5 percent from beyond the arc. Fresno State shot 42.9 percent, including 25 percent from beyond the arc. The Broncos finished with 31 rebounds, eight assists and seven steals. The Bulldogs finished with 41 rebounds, 14 assists and eight steals.
Lena Gipson finished the night with 10 points and eight rebounds and Lindsay Leo added eight points and six rebounds. Kathy Willinsky added 11 points and grabbed three rebounds.
Marinique Arnold and Jaleesa Ross, who finished with 12 and 10 points respectively, also led the Bulldogs.
The Broncos started the game on a 6-0 run. Gipson, Fulps and Telisha Anderson scored baskets for the Broncos. Anderson's basket came with 18:15 remaining.
However, the Bulldogs went on an 11-0 run to grab the lead from the Broncos. Ross led Fresno State with four points during the run. The Broncos broke the run with a basket by Leo at 10:09.
Fulps knocked down four free throws, two at 9:00 and two with 6:06 remaining to pace the Broncos. Munro's bucket with 5:22 remaining pushed Fresno State's lead to 21-14.
Ricki Radanovich nailed a three at 3:35 to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 22-17. Radanovich added a free throw later in the half to bring the score to 24-20.
Fresno State responded with consecutive three pointers at 1:43 and 1:17 by Munro and Alex Furr to put Fresno State up 30-20. However, Alyssa Shoji responded by knocking down a three-pointer with 51 seconds remaining to cut the score to 30-23. The score at the half was 33-23.
After the first half, Santa Clara shot 33.3 percent, including 15.4 percent from beyond the arc. Fresno State shot 44.8 percent, including 27.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Fulps led the Broncos with six points and two assists. Radanovich had four points and Leo added four as well. Gipson led Santa Clara with six rebounds. Munro led the Bulldogs with 10 points and Ross added eight points.
Gipson opened up the second half with a layup at 19:26, and Fulps made a layup at 17:05 to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 35-29.
Bree Farley converted on a three-pointer for Fresno State at 15:54 to push its lead back to 38-30.
Gipson knocked down two free throws to cut the score to 38-32 at 15:36. Fresno State countered with a 7-0 run, getting four points from Marnique Arnold, to take a 45-32 lead with 12:55 remaining.
