WICHITA, Kan. – Santa Clara opened the second half on a 13-0 run but it wasn't enough to overcome a 20-point first half deficit as Wichita State held on to beat the Broncos at the Charles Koch Arena Thursday night, 64-49.
The Shockers needed just 15 minutes to establish a season-high in three-pointers made, dropping in seven 3s to lead by as many as 20 in the first half and at the break, 37-20.
Haleigh Lankster led all scorers with 21 points. Morgan Boyd added 16 and cleared 11 rebounds. The pair combined to make six 3s, helping WSU shoot .471 percent (24 of 51) from the field.
Wichita State (4-2) who qualified for the WBI tournament last season, is looking to make back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since 2001.
Meagan Fulps keyed the Bronco run after halftime, making three 3s for Santa Clara (0-6) and finishing with a team-high 14 points and three assists. Lena Gipson posted her second consecutive double-double, with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The game was scoreless through the first three minutes and remained low scoring until the Shockers hit three-straight 3s to take a 17-5 lead at the 13:08 mark.
WSU connected on six 3s in the first eight minutes to account for 18 of their first 23 points.
Gipson was a force in the paint on SCU's end, making 5 of 8 shots and grabbing nine rebounds in the first half.
Fulps made a pair of three-pointers and Ashley Armstrong added another for SCU as part of a 13-0 run for the Broncos following the intermission. Two Gipson free throws cut the lead to six and Fulps made her third 3 of the half to make it 41-38 with 14:59 left.
That was as close as Santa Clara got. The Broncos committed a season-high 24 turnovers, which contributed to a scoreless stretch of seven-plus minutes late in the second half.
Santa Clara returns to action Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. when they host Sacramento State (2-6) on their home floor at the Leavey Center. Billed as BASWI Night, the game is one of four featured in SCU's 'Be a Part of It' campaign. For tickets or more information call 408-554-4660.
GAME NOTES: Santa Clara changed up its starting lineup, going with a four-guard attack (Shoji-Armstrong-Radanovich-Fulps-Gipson) … it was the first-ever meeting between the two schools … the Shockers are now 26-11 at home under third-year coach Jody Adams … Santa Clara's 49 points was a season-low.
