SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Despite a 16-point halftime lead, Santa Clara women's basketball saw a miserable second half allow San Diego to come away with a 57-49 victory in Leavey Center Monday afternoon.
After scoring 37 points in the first half on 62.4-percent shooting and 7-for-13 from beyond the arc, the Broncos (7-6, 0-2 WCC) managed just 12 points in the second half while shooting 23.8-percent from the field, including 0-for-9 from downtown.
"The difference between the first half and the second half was our energy level and confidence," Santa Clara head coach Bill Carr said. "We did a really good job in the first half but didn't match them in the second. It affected our play and we weren't able to withstand their runs."
The Toreros (8-5, 1-1 WCC) started their run immediately out of the halftime break, scoring the first 10 of the half to get within 37-31 and ended the quarter with a jumper in the paint as the buzzer sounded from Myah Pace that made the score 41-40.
The run continued to begin the fourth with a 3-pointer by Sydney Shepard that gave San Diego its first lead of the game. Kiera Oakry scored the next five, finishing with seven on the day, including a triple at 8:36 that made it 48-41.
After Santa Clara got back within two at 51-49, San Diego scored the final six of the game.
Shepard scored 15 points to lead the Toreros and was 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. Patricia Brossman added a double-double (14 points/12 rebounds) with Sydney Hunter adding 11 points.
The first half was much better for the Broncos and they ended it on a 12-2 run, including the final seven points. Lindsey VanAllen had the play of the day when she picked up a steal and dribbled around the back to get free of her defender for a fast break layup that made it 37-21 heading into the locker room.
"The first half is how we want to play," Carr said. "We have to work on competing and making plays for a full 40 minutes. We have to finish games."
Tia Hay scored a team-high 16 and was 4-for-6 from beyond the arc with VanAllen scoring 10. In her fourth consecutive start, Joeseta Fatuesi was 4-for-6 from the floor and scored eight points with three rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.
Santa Clara started the game with the first nine points, capped by a 3-pointer from Hay. Fatuesi, Emily Wolph, and Lauren Yearwood all picked up layups during the run.
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHT | Lindsey VanAllen gets the swipe and goes behind the back for the score in today's contest against San Diego! #StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/pkLDnM2RI0
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) January 1, 2019
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 34-41 all-time against San Diego.
- The Broncos had 13 assists on 20 baskets.
UP NEXT
The Broncos hit the road for the first time in conference play but stay in the Bay Area to take on San Francisco Saturday at 2 p.m. on the Hilltop.
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