SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Despite a pair of 20-point scorers, Santa Clara women's basketball couldn't complete its comeback and fell to Pacific 74-70 at home Thursday night.
The Tigers (11-5, 4-2 WCC) led for all but 17 seconds, including a game-high 14 point lead in the first quarter, but the Broncos (9-8, 2-4 WCC) were able to get within one late in the fourth quarter before coming up just short.
Lindsey Van Allen and Tia Hay knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers, Hay's with with 2:32 in the fourth, to make it a 71-70 game with 2:32 to go. Brooklyn McDavid missed a pair of free throws on the other end to give Santa Clara a chance to take its first lead of the game but a runner in the lane by VanAllen on the ensuing possession was just off the mark.
The Broncos had another chance to tie after McDavid knocked down a jumper with 1:18 on the clock to make it 73-70, but Hay's 3-point attempt was no good.
"It was a great effort to come back and give us a chance late in the game after a dismal start," Santa Clara head coach Bill Carr said. "In the second half I thought we played with passion and energy. We guarded better and were more aggressive on the offensive end. Now we have to do that for 40 minutes."
McDavid scored a game-high 28 points on 12-for-18 shooting from the floor and added a game-high 11 rebounds for the double-double. The Tigers also got 15 from Jessica Blakeslee and 10 points and eight assists from Ameela Li.
With her team down 13, VanAllen single-handedly got Santa Clara back in the game in the third quarter by going on an 8-0 run by herself. She highlighted the run with a 3-pointer and a three-point play that made it 54-49 with 3:56 to go.
VanAllen finished the night with 15 points while Hay added a team-high tying 20 and a career-high nine assists.
Ashlyn Herlihy kept Santa Clara in it in the first half by scoring 18 of her 20 points, including six in a row to make it 39-34 with 2:15 left in the second quarter.
"Ashlyn kept us in the game in the first half and Tia and Lindsey made some big shots in the second half to put pressure on them," Carr said. "Charise also gave us good minutes off the bench and I thought everyone did well in the second half."
Pacific led from the start, jumping out to a 7-0 lead before Santa Clara could get on the board. The Tigers then ran off 11 in a row over two minutes midway through the first to build a 22-8 lead with 4:18 on the clock.
The Broncos cut the deficit to five with an 8-0 run that was capped by a 3-pointer from Lexie Pritchard with 8:45 left in the second quarter that made it 26-21 but the Tigers maintained their distance and led by eight at the half.
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS | The best of tonight's furious fourth quarter! #StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/09gIPXDd4l
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) January 18, 2019
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 28-22 all-time against Pacific.
- The Broncos used the same starting lineup (Pritchard, Hay, Fatuesi, Jimenez, Herlihy) for the second game in a row.
- Both teams shared the ball with Santa Clara picking up 15 assists on 21 baskets and Pacific collecting 24 of 29 made shots.
- The Broncos scored 18 points off of 13 Tigers' turnovers.
- Santa Clara set season-highs with 11 3-pointers made and 29 attempted.
- With two blocks, Lauren Year is at 43 on the year. That is good for a tie for sixth on the Santa Clara single-season list (Lindsey Leo 2012-13).
UP NEXT
The Broncos remain at home to take on Saint Mary's Saturday at 2 p.m.
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