Jan. 4, 2004
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Santa Clara University women's basketball team fell to Texas San Antonio 59-47 this afternoon at the Convocation Center in San Antonio. Senior forward Jennie Rondel led the Broncos with 15 points, as the squad lost its sixth straight contest and falls to 3-9 on the season. The Roadrunners were led by Nikki Hendrix's 20 points and 12 rebounds, and improve to 4-7 on the year.
Santa Clara's 47 points marked the lowest scoring output for the program in 15 years, a span of 445 games dating back to a 97-47 loss to Wake Forest at the SCU Pepsi Classic on Nov. 26, 1988.
The Broncos had a 12-9 lead with 12:16 remaining in the first half, but failed to score again, as the 'Runners went on a 17-0 run to close the period. Santa Clara committed 18 turnovers in the frame, 13 of which came during the final 12 minutes. Rondel scored half of the team's points at intermission, leading the Broncos with six.
Santa Clara ended the scoring drought early in the second half, when freshman forward Ashley Gonnerman made one free throw. The Broncos went a total 14:25 on the clock without a field goal, but saw that drought end with Rondel's three from the top of the key with 17:51 remaining in the game. However, Roadrunner Dewella Holliday scored her team's first eight points of the period to lead 34-19. Bronco junior guard Quinn Thomas hit two threes to close the Broncos within 12, 39-27 with 13:18 remaining.
Thomas hit two more threes in the second half and finished with 12 points. Red-shirt freshman Tori Markey led Santa Clara defensively with 10 rebounds. The Broncos took better care of the ball in the second half, committing only five more turnovers, but the charity stripe eluded the squad, as SCU was 3-13 from the free throw line.
Holliday finished with 19 points for UTSA.
Santa Clara will close the non-conference season at San Diego State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Broncos will open the West Coast Conference season on the road next weekend at San Francisco.
