SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Sacramento State and its fast-paced offense pulled away from Santa Clara Sunday afternoon, turning a tie game early in the second half into an 18-point advantage with four minutes left, beating the Broncos 78-65.
The teams combined to shoot 58 three-pointers. Santa Clara's 36 attempts from beyond the arc equaled an all-time program record in the Leavey Center.
Sacramento State (3-6) – who came in averaging 80 points per game - received 24 points and eight rebounds from sophomore forward Kylie Kuhns. Natasha Torgerson scored 11 and Mallorie Franco came off the bench to grab 10 rebounds.
Santa Clara (0-7) tied the game at 43 with 16:44 left after a triple by freshman guard Ricki Radanovich. The Broncos had four players reach double-figures in scoring for the first time this season and their 65 points was a season-high.
Lena Gipson led the way for SCU, posting her third straight double-double, 16 points and 15 rebounds. Alyssa Shoji made three 3s and finished with 12 points and five assists. Ashley Armstrong had 10 points on 5 of 10 shooting while also clearing seven rebounds. Meagan Fulps had 11 points.
Santa Clara continues to rebound well, collecting 45 for the game and 15 offensive boards in the first half but their struggles shooting the basketball continued as well. SCU made just 7 of 36 attempts (.194) from three-point range and finished 22 of 70 from the field overall (.314).
The Hornets led by just five at halftime, 35-30, before Kuhns emerged to score 20 of her 24 points following the break. Radanovich tied it at 43, and then the Hornets went on a 9-0 run to regain command.
The lead grew to 15, 66-51, with 7:25 remaining when Torgerson dropped in a 3. Sacramento State's bench players outscored the SCU reserves 24-8 and the Hornets were able to score 34 points in the paint.
Santa Clara will have the week off for academic finals before returning to action next Monday, December 13 at Southern Utah.
