NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Santa Clara women's basketball finished its road nonconference schedule with a resounding 76-55 victory at CSUN Wednesday night.
The Broncos (5-5) flexed their muscles on both offense and defense, eclipsing the 75-point mark for the fourth time this season and holding the Matadors (3-8) to just 28.4-percent shooting from the field. A balanced offensive attack was the key for Santa Clara with 11 different playing scoring and 10 making at least one field goal.
With CSUN hanging around in the third, Deja Williams hit a 3-pointer with 4:07 to go to get the Santa Clara lead down to 42-32 but the Broncos responded with the next seven points to stretch their lead out to 49-32 and all but put the game away.
Merle Wiehl led all scorers with 19 points while knocking down a career-high four 3-pointers and adding five rebounds and three steals. Ashlyn Herlihy was 7-for-9 from the floor and scored 15 with Addi Walters adding 12 points, all on 3-pointers. On the glass, Lauren Yearwood pulled down 10 boards with Tia Hay grabbing nine.
Walters and Wiehl hit back-to-back triples to give Santa Clara some breathing room in the first half and turned a three-point game into a 21-12 Santa Clara lead midway through the second quarter. After a CSUN bucket, Walters hit another 3-pointer to give the Broncos a double-digit lead for the first time at 24-14.
Jordyn Jackson led the Matadors with 15 points and five assists. Lauren Shymkewicz added 12 points and a team high nine boards. De'Jionae Calloway scored nine and Carla Drennan added eight.
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 9-3 all-time vs. CSUN.
- Lauren Yearwood remains at 96 blocks in her career, good for fourth in Santa Clara history. Next up is Lindsey Leo (2010-13) with 113.
- The Broncos had 24 assists on 31 make baskets.
- Santa Clara had a 26-12 advantage in bench points and a 36-22 edge in points in the paint.
UP NEXT
The Broncos finish nonconference play at home against Fresno State Saturday at 1 p.m.
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