Feb. 5, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Gonzaga's Anne Bailey hit a three with 42 seconds on the clock to break a 59-59 tie and lead Gonzaga to a West Coast Conference victory against Santa Clara in women's basketball action tonight at the Leavey Center. The Bulldogs then made four of six free throw attempts to seal the 66-61 victory and improve the nation's longest win streak to 16 games.
Michelle Cozad led Santa Clara with her first double-double of the season, netting 16 points and 10 rebounds, but the Broncos even their overall record to 11-11 and move to 5-4 in conference play. Ashley Burke led all scorers with a season-high 23 points and the Bulldogs improve to 20-2, 9-0. Bailey finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Gonzaga held a lead through the first half, and was up by as many as seven, but the Broncos stayed close. In the final 30 seconds of the half, Ashley Gonnerman kicked out the ball to Kayla Huss, who hit a three from the top of the key to half Gonzaga's lead at intermission, 31-28. Burke had 16 points at the break as the Bulldogs hit 50 percent from the field and almost doubled their advantage on the boards, out-rebounding Santa Clara 23-12.
Santa Clara made its move midway through the second half, and held Gonzaga without a basket for 7:16 on the clock. The Broncos went on a 12-0 run during that span, sparked by a Cozad lay-up. Santa Clara led by as many as five heading into the final six minutes of regulation.
Gonzaga's Shannon Mathews went drove the length of the court for a basket that tied the ballgame at 57 with 2:47 remaining. Ashley Graham hit a jumper to keep the Broncos ahead, but Gonzaga responded with a basket by Dominique Harris. A Bronco turnover set up Bailey's three-pointer from the left wing that gave the Bulldogs the lead for the rest of the night. The Broncos turned the ball over on their next two possessions and were forced to foul, where Raeanna Jewell and Shannon Mathews combined to make four of six from the charity stripe. A Tori Markey putback in the final 10 seconds provided the final score.
Huss and Tracey Walker each finished with 11 points. Gonzaga saw 15 points and six assists from Mathews, and 10 points and nine rebounds from Stephanie Hawk.
These teams, which combined for 19 three-pointers when they met in Spokane last month, made only four today. The Broncos, who lead the nation in treys made per game, accounted for three tonight.
The athletic department also celebrated National Women in Sports Day during this contest, with 60 youths pairing up with Broncos student-athletes to make posters before the game and enjoy juice and cookies during halftime.
Santa Clara remains in conference play and will visit the East Bay to take on Saint Mary's next Saturday. The contest will air live on Fox Sports Bay Area, and tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.