Broncos Lose Close Game on Road to Reigning WAC Champs

FRESNO, Calif. – Fueled by a team-high 20 points from Alyssa Shoji, who made 6 of 8 attempts from three-point range, visiting Santa Clara hung tough with perennial NCAA tournament qualifiers and reigning WAC Champions Fresno State Sunday, but the Bulldogs hung on for an 83-71 victory. 

Santa Clara (1-1) was coming off a season-opening victory over CSU Bakersfield, in which they scored 93 points Friday night at the Leavey Center. Fresno State (1-1) bounced back from losing a close game at USC in its opener on the road.

High-scoring Bronco junior guard Meagan Fulps, who matched a career-high with 30 Friday night, scored 14 Sunday, including a go-ahead lay up with 27 seconds left before halftime to put SCU up 35-34.

The Bulldogs got a big boost from Washington State transfer Ki-Ki Moore, who made nine baskets en route to a 28-point performance in her home debut in Fresno.

Santa Clara received 16 points from Ashley Armstrong and 10 from Ruta Zurauskyte. The two starting post players combined to make 9 of 12 shots.

Santa Clara is in the midst of playing four games in eight days. The Broncos are back in action Wednesday, Nov. 16 (Northern Colorado) and Friday, November 18 (Southern Utah) at home. Both games will tip-off at 7 p.m. at the Leavey Center.