SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women's basketball overcame a nine-point fourth quarter deficit but fell in overtime to San Francisco 72-66 Saturday afternoon in Leavey Center.
Two times in the extra period the Broncos (8-13, 2-8 WCC) had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer but both were off the mark. Merle Wiehl had the first chance with 1:56 on the clock and Lindsey VanAllen had the second with just 16 seconds to go.
The Dons (8-14, 1-9 WCC) sealed the game by hitting five of six free throws over the last 32 seconds.
While Santa Clara struggled from the field shooting 34.3-percent, San Francisco excelled, knocking down 52.7-percent of their shots, including going 23 of 40 from inside the arc.
The difference was made up in part by Santa Clara holding a 25-9 edge in points off turnovers thanks to forcing 23 while committing 11.
Mikayla Williams knocked down a triple with 10.9 to go in the fourth to turn the Dons' deficit into a 60-59 lead. On the ensuing Broncos possession, Naomi Jimenez was fouled and converted one of two from the free throw line with 4.7 second left. San Francisco got a good look on the other end, but Kia Vaalavirta missed a layup to send the game into overtime.
Williams tied a season high and led all scorers with 29 points on 12-for-21 shooting while adding 13 rebounds for the double-double. Leilah Vigil also had a double-double with 19 points and a game high 14 rebounds. Abby Rathbun added 11 points with six assists and Vaalavirta picked up eight assists.
A 13-2 Santa Clara run, featuring six points from Tia Hay, got Santa Clara back on top. Hay opened the run with a jumper at 7:03 in the fourth and also knocked down a triple. Her free throw with 19 seconds to go put the Broncos on top 59-57.
Hay ended the day with 13 points while Emily Wolph scored a team high 17 and dished out four assists. Ashlyn Herlihy scored 14 go along with eight rebounds.
After trailing since late in the first quarter, the Dons went on a 9-0 run over three minutes in the third quarter to get back on top. Four different players scored with Vigil's layup at 4:14 making it 41-38.
The Broncos got the lead down to one twice following the run, both on layups by Wolph, but another layup by Vigil and a 3-pointer from Dolapo Balogun at 1:36 in the period grew the lead to 48-42.
The Sana Clara deficit would get as high as nine when Lucie Hoskova nailed one from deep and Rathbun followed with a jumper to make it 55-46 with 7:26 left in the fourth.
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS | Best of the Broncos from today's matchup against San Francisco!#StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/NeeCj7Pnmz
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) February 2, 2020
�� #StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/qEw3loCnfG
— Santa Clara Broncos (@SCUBroncos) February 2, 2020
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 63-41 all-time against San Francisco.
- The Broncos are now 0-3 in overtime games this season.
- Santa Clara dominated in bench points (25-6) and fast break points (24-8)
- Tia Hay and Merle Wiehl returned to action after missing the last game with injury.
- Tamia Braggs missed her second consecutive game with a wrist injury.
UP NEXT
The Broncos remain home to take on LMU Thursday at 7 p.m.
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