Dec. 18, 2000
DEKALB, Ill. - Santa Clara women's basketball team posted its fourth straight win after defeating Northern Illinois 62-50 tonight at Evans Field House.
The Broncos improve to 7-2 overall, and conclude the six-game road trip with a 5-1 mark. The Huskies fall to 2-8 on the season. Santa Clara has now won both meetings between the schools, with the series beginning in 1998.
Junior Becki Ashbaugh opened all scoring with a three-pointer from the far side. Two free throws from sophomore Kendra Rhea, followed by layups from seniors Annie Garrison and Jen Glysson, gave Santa Clara a nine-point lead in the game's first three minutes. The Broncos then went eight minutes without registering a field goal, but maintained an eight-point lead thanks to 18 free throw attempts in the half, of which Santa Clara made 13. Although SCU turned the ball over 13 times in the half, Northern Illinois was not able to capitalize, as the Bronco defense held the Huskies to 23 percent shooting, its worst outing in a half since 1982.
The Broncos extended their lead to 28 points midway through the second half, but a 10-0 Huskie scoring run quickly followed. Additionally, the Broncos allowed Northern Illinois to score 12 points in the final three minutes to lessen the margin of victory to 12.
"We got a little lazy in the second half," head coach Chris Denker said. "We lost our focus, but overall I was really pleased with our defensive effort. Our post defense shut the Huskies down in the paint."
Glysson and Ashbaugh led all scorers with 13 points apiece, with Garrison also reaching double digits with 11. Although the Broncos forced 21 turnovers, they committed a season-high 26 as Northern Illinois outscored the Broncos 38-30 after intermission.
The Broncos now break for the holidays, but will return home for its debut at the newly-reconstructed Leavey Event Center, hosting Maryland on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at 7 p.m.
