SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Kicking-off a four-game road trip, Santa Clara women's basketball beat UC Santa Barbara by a final of 47-33. The win puts the Broncos at 2-1 while the Gauchos are now 0-3.
Santa Clara returns to the floor Tues., Nov. 25 at the Hardwood Tournament of Hope in Puerto Vallarta, Mex. vs. LSU at 12:30 pm.
Santa Clara shot 35.4% (17-48) from the field and 27.3% (3-11) from three. The Broncos had 49 rebounds, 11 assists, 23 turnovers, three blocks, and one steal. Beth Carlson led the offense with 12 points on 4-7 shooting and eight rebounds. Nici Gilday scored nine points with four rebounds and two assists while Taylor Berry grabbed nine rebounds and added four points.
UC Santa Barbara shot 14.3% (7-49) from the field and 13.3% (2-15) from three. The Gauchos had 31 rebounds, four assists, 15 turnovers, three blocks, and three steals. Makala Roper led the offense with nine points and added three rebounds. Kristine Brance scored seven while Clair Watkins had six boards to go with three points.
Both teams started the game cold from the field going a combined 0-13 from the floor. Two free throws by Carlson were the only points in the first four minutes of the game. Onome Jemerigbe knocked down a jumper at the 15:52 mark to tie the game.
The Broncos first field goal came at the 12:40 mark when Sidney Rielly nailed a three to put Santa Clara on top 5-2. Out of the under-12 timeout Chaya Durr hit two from the charity stripe to make it a one-point game.
The Gauchos used a three from Roper to take their first lead of the game but on the next possession Madison Allen made a layup to even the score at 7-7 with just under 11 minutes remaining in the opening half. Melissa Maraganes came back with a jumper and Marie Bertholdt hit one of two free throws.
A layup by Berry put Santa Clara back up 10-9. Berry was also fouled on the play but missed the free throw. The teams went into the under-eight media timeout with the score the same.
Five straight free throws by three different players for Santa Barbara made the score 14-10 Gauchos with 6:21 left in the half. Raquel Avila answered with a jumper at 5:18.
A jumper by Watkins at 1:08 made it an eight point Bronco deficit but Carlson came back and hit two free throws. Another free throw by Watkins was answered by two from Brooke Gallaway. The teams went into the locker room with Santa Barbara leading 21-16.
Santa Clara shot 21.1% (4-19) from the field and 25.0% (1-4) from three in the first half. The Broncos had 24 rebounds, two assists, 16 turnovers, two blocks, and one steal. Carlson led the offense with four points on 4-4 shooting from the free throw line and grabbed three boards. Marie Bertholdt grabbed a team-best five boards.
UC Santa Barbara shot 18.5% (5-27) from the field and 14.3% (1-7) from three in the first half. The Gauchos had 18 rebounds, three assists, seven turnovers, one block, and two steals. Maragnes, Roper, and Mi'CHael Wright led the offense with four points each. Watkins and Jasmine Ware grabbed a team-high three boards while Dioseline Lopez led the team with three assists.
Over the first 5:07 of the second half, Santa Clara went on a 10-0 run to take a five-point lead. Gilday led the way with four points while Gallaway made a three. At the 13 minute mark Roper hit a three to end the run and make it a two-point game.
A free throw for UCSB put them back on top but Emily Wolph answered back with a layup. A jumper by Berry made the score 30-27 Broncos with just under 10 minutes remaining.
Another 10-0 run by Santa Clara would put them up by double-digits for the first time on a Morgan McGwire jumper at 5:14. Carlson scored six points during the 3:12 second run. A pair of free throws by Brance finally ended the run and made the score 40-31.
With one minute remaining Santa Clara went up by 14 when Bertholdt knocked down a pair of free throws. The final 60 seconds would run out and the Broncos held on for the win.
