Thomas Scores 22 in Women's Hoops Win

Thomas Scores 22 in Women's Hoops Win

Dec. 28, 2004

Box Score

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University senior guard Quinn Thomas made five three-point field goals to finish with 22 points and lead the Bronco women's basketball team to a 78-71 victory over Nevada this evening at the Leavey Center. Sophomore forward Kasey Monteith posted career highs in points (14) and rebounds (8) in her first career start as the Broncos improve to 4-7 on the season.

Nevada marked the fourth Western Athletic Conference Santa Clara has faced this season. The Broncos went 3-1 against the WAC, adding wins against Hawaii and San Jose State. The Wolf Pack falls to 4-6 on the season.

Thomas and Monteith were among four Broncos that reached double digits in scoring, as Ashley Graham added 18 points and Michelle Cozad followed with 10. Tori Markey came off the bench and added eight rebounds.

Meghan McGuire netted a career-high 23 points to lead Nevada. Talisha Anderson and April Bankston added 10 points each. Amber Young led all rebounders with nine, as UNR owned a 51-36 advantage on the boards.

Nevada opened a 5-0 lead to start the afternoon, and Monteith was the first to put the Broncos on the board. Thomas and Cozad followed with threes from opposite wings to tie the contest at 15 with 11:30.

The game stayed close, through a 28-28 tie, but the Broncos then broke it open with a 15-0 run. Graham scored 10 straight to spark the run, which was capped by field goals from Ashley Gonnerman and Thomas. Four Wolf Pack turnovers in the final three minutes hurt the visitors during that stretch, but UNR was able to reduce SCU's lead to 11 at the break after Young hit a three with two seconds on the clock.

Santa Clara extended it's lead to 16 in second-half action, but a four-minute stretch without a field goal allowed Nevada to chip the lead down to seven inside five minutes. The Wolf Pack reduced the lead further with two free throws from Bankston, but Anna Martin stepped up for the Broncos and hit the team's ninth three-pointer of the contest to push the lead back to eight, 69-61, with three minutes remaining.

A McGuire three at the top of the key followed by a jumper made it a 69-66 ballgame one minute later. Graham was able to convert a 15-footer heading into the final minute, forcing UNR to foul. Santa Clara made seven of nine free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Santa Clara remains at the Leavey Center and will host Portland State on Thursday at 7 p.m.