SPOKANE, Wash. – A fast start for Gonzaga proved too much for Santa Clara women's basketball Saturday afternoon as the Zags topped the Broncos 71-44 in a West Coast Conference matchup.
Gonzaga (15-4, 8-0 WCC) was led by a trio of scorers in double-figures and forced 23 Santa Clara (5-14, 1-7 WCC) turnovers which turned into 25 points. The Bulldogs also got to the line 18 times and connected on 14 attempts while the Broncos were just 2-for-6.
Gonzaga pulled away almost immediately, going on a 16-2 run starting at 9:21 in the first quarter and lasting six minutes to get on top 16-4. Jill Barta scored eight points during the run with three other Zags adding at least a point.
The Bulldogs followed up their strong first quarter with 14-0 run over four minutes in the second. A layup from Zykera Rice with 5:52 began the run that finally ended when Dru Toleafoa knocked down a 3-pointer with 53 seconds left in the first half to make it 37-16.
Rice led all scorers with 18 and Barta added 16 Emma Stach scored 12 with the three combining to shoot 19-for-27 from the field to help the Zags shoot 50.9-percent on the day.
Morgan McGwire scored 10 of her team-high 12 behind a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter with Santa Clara finishing the quarter 6-for-8 from the field. The Broncos scored 17 points in the quarter, their best offensive showing of the game.
Dru Toleafoa had her best game of the year from beyond the arc, knocking down three 3-pointers in four attempts. Kyla Martin had a team-high five assists with five rebounds and five points.
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 29-38 all-time against Gonzaga.
- Taylor Berry made her 93rd consecutive start.
- Ruobing Bai made her season debut after missing the first 18 games with injury.
- Santa Clara assisted on nine of its 18 made field goals.
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS | The #SCUBroncos continue their @WCCSports slate at home this week! Take a look back at Saturday's road contest against Gonzaga. FULL HIGHLIGHTS ▶️ https://t.co/W5pjEQzxvN #StampedeTogether #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/XGlCdAFDER
— Santa Clara WBB (@Santaclarawbb) January 22, 2018
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