SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Coming off the first win of their conference season, Santa Clara women's basketball returns to the floor for just one game this week at San Francisco on Sat., Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. Last week the Broncos topped Portland 83-68 but fell to Gonzaga in a close game. Santa Clara is 6-9 overall and 1-5 in West Coast Conference play this season.
"We have some players that play a ton of minutes so it's nice for them to get some more rest this week with just one game," said Santa Clara head coach JR Payne. "This week it's been nice to be able to focus on ourselves and some of the things we've been struggling with. Right now we're really working on execution. There have been times where we've struggled with that so we're focusing on the details."
Santa Clara is being outscored by an average of 69.3-68.5 but outrebounding opponents 43.5-38.2. They are second in the conference in rebounding and third in blocks per game with 3.8. The Broncos are shooting 38.9% (373-960) from the field, 29.8% (67-225) from three, and 70.9% (214-302) from the free throw line.
Nici Gilday leads the WCC with 19.6 ppg on 40.8% (104-255) shooting from the field. She leads Santa Clara with 36 threes made, third in the conference, and 95 attempted for a team-best 37% mark. She is also tops in the conference with 90.9% (50-55) shooting from the free throw line. She adds 2.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, and1.6 spg. Marie Bertholdt leads the team with 7.4 rpg and is second in scoring with 9.9 ppg. She leads the team in free throws made (54) and attempted (66). Her 12 blocks ranks second on the team and she adds 1.5 apg and 1.3 spg. Raquel Avila is tops on the team with 3.7 apg while adding 4.5 ppg and 2.4 rpg. Her 1.8 assist to turnover ratio places her third in the WCC. Maddison Allen leads Santa Clara with 1.7 bpg, third in the WCC, to go with 4.4 ppg and 4.4 rpg.
Santa Clara is 57-35 all-time vs. San Francisco with the first meeting coming in 1964-65. Last year the Broncos swept the season series and are on a nine-game winning streak vs. the Dons.
"Taylor Proctor is probably one of the best all-around players in this conference and she can do everything," said Payne. "They also have a really experienced back court and are athletic. They're going to pressure the ball and get after it defensively."
San Francisco is 10-7 on the season and 1-5 in conference play. They are 8-3 at home this season. They started WCC action 0-5 before topping Portland 85-68 in their last game.
The Dons have outscored opponents 67.3-61.4 and outrebounding teams 40.1-36.8. They are shooting 40.8% (410-1006) from the field, 28.9% (71-246) from three, and 73.8% (253-343) from the free throw line, good for second in the WCC. They are also second in the conference in field goal defense, allowing just a 37.6% mark and second with a +2.6 turnover margin.
Taylor Proctor leads San Francisco with 15.1 ppg on 49.3% (100-203) shooting from the field. She also leads the team with 7.9 rpg and is third with 1.8 apg. Taj Winston scores 10.2 ppg with 5.2 rpg. She is second with 2.0 apg and leads the way with 2.5 spg, good for third in the conference. Shane Dikes is averaging 10.1 ppg with 5.9 rpg. She leads the Dons with 2.6 apg and is second with 1.6 spg.
