Jan. 15, 2004
MALIBU, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's basketball team fell to Pepperdine 85-62 tonight at the Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu. Freshman forward Ashley Gonnerman scored a career-high 17 points, but Santa Clara falls to 5-10, 1-1 in the West Coast Conference. Six Waves reached double figures, led by Shandrika Lee's 14 points. Pepperdine improves to 7-9, 1-2.
Santa Clara opened strong, with Gonnerman scoring eight of the Broncos' first 14 points. Santa Clara led 20-13 midway through the half, but it sparked the Waves to close the period by outscoring the Broncos 20-9, holding SCU to only two field goals in the final nine minutes.
It started with four straight baskets by Pepperdine, including a baseline jumper by Shanell Law to give the home team its first lead of the game. Quinn Thomas and Yasemin Kimyacioglu hit three-point baskets for SCU, and the Broncos remained close at the four-minute mark, trailing only by two, 28-26.
Law remained hot and scored twice again for the Waves, keeping the momentum for the home squad. Lee then converted a four-point play, followed by a three-point play from Nicole Funn to burst open an 11-0 run in two-minute span.
Pepperdine made all eight free throw attempts in the first half as the Waves took a 43-29 lead into the lockerroom.
Shannon Mayberry opened the second half with six straight points, as Pepperdine remained productive offensively. The Waves extended their lead by as much as 24 despite the Broncos shooting 43 percent from the field in the second half.
Bronco senior forward Jennie Rondel added 15 points, while back-to-back three pointers by freshman guard Ashley Graham helped her finish in double digits as well, netting 10.
For Pepperdine, Funn and Kelli Spencer posted 11 points each, while Law, Jennifer Lacy and Mayberry scored 10 apiece. The Waves outrebounded SCU 42-23.
The game featured four former Oregon City High School products, in Broncos Gonnerman and Anna Martin, and Waves Spencer and Kerra Wodarski.
Santa Clara will close the weekend against Loyola Marymount on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Gersten Pavilion.
