Feb. 4, 2004
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This Week
Santa Clara enters the second half of conference action under .500 for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. The Broncos (6-14, 2-5) close a three-game road trip with a visit to San Diego on Thursday. The Broncos will play the Toreros (6-14, 1-6) at the Jenny Craig Pavilion at 7 p.m. The teams have split every series for the past five years.
Scouting the San Diego Toreros
Series Record: SCU leads 25-16
First Game: Santa Clara won (59-41) on Jan. 4, 1985 in Santa Clara
Last Game: San Diego won (80-77) on Feb. 8, 2003 in San Diego
Largest SCU Margin of Victory: 37, twice, last on Jan. 31, 1997 (80-43) in Santa Clara
Largest USD Margin of Victory: 17 on Jan. 24, 1990 (80-63) in Santa Clara
San Diego Record in 2002-03: 13-17 (5-9)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/4
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Notable: Marta Menuez has the hot hand for the Toreros, with four double-doubles in her last four outings... USD has won the last five regular season home games against Santa Clara at San Diego.
Thomas' Three-Point Perfection
Junior guard Quinn Thomas had the hot hand from long range in January, hitting 50 percent from three-point land. Her third trey at Portland on Jan. 31 marked the 142nd of her career, putting Thomas solely in second place in the Bronco recordbooks for three-pointers made. She surpassed former teammate and 2002 graduate Becki Ashbaugh, who was actually in attendance that night, as she drove up from the University of Oregon, where she is currently attending law school. Thomas is currently at 144, and needs just 14 more to set a new mark, by passing Julie Lienert's record of 157, set from 1988-91. Thomas leads the league in three-point field goals made per game, averaging 2.5. She has a 37.4 percentage from long range, ranked fifth in the conference.
More WCC Statistics
Santa Clara leads the league in three-point field goals made per game (6.95), three-point field goal percentage (.357) and three-point field goal defense (.299), while ranking second in field goal percentage (.411) and assists (14.40). Individually, Ashley Graham is second in three-point field goal percentage (.434), third in three-point field goals made (1.80) and fourth in assists (3.85). Quinn Thomas is tops in three-point field goals made (2.50), fifth in percentage (.374) and 10th in scoring (11.1). Jennie Rondel is ranked 16th in scoring (9.5) and ninth in field goal percentage (.450), while Jenni Gottschalk is ranked 14th in rebounding (5.1).
A Fountain of Youth
Santa Clara is one of the top 15 youngest women's basketball teams that is taking the court this season. With six freshmen, two sophomores, three juniors and two seniors, the Broncos' average age is 19.4 years heading into the season.
A Look Ahead: Broncos Remain on the Road
Santa Clara will play five of their last six contests at the Leavey Center.
Live on the Internet
Santa Clara's entire schedule returns to the Internet, as a live audio broadcast will be available for a third season on www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. Additionally, Leavey Center contests can be followed online with a live statistical tracker, also located on SCU's official athletic website. By logging on, fans receive real-time updated statistics direct from the official scoring computer, allowing users to listen to the audio broadcast and keep up with the statistics simultaneously. Anthony Passarelli returns as the voice of the Broncos for a third season.
WCC Championship Coming to SCU in 2004
The WCC Men's and Women's Championships will return to the Bay Area in 2004 and 2005, as announced by Commissioner Michael Gilleran. The change is a result of the WCC's decision to rotate the league's premier event between the Bay Area, Pacific Northwest and Southern California, each for a period of two consecutive years.
The 2006 and 2007 tournament will move to the Pacific Northwest before heading to Southern California in 2008 and 2009.
The 2004 WCC Basketball Tournament will be held at the Leavey Center. In 2005, the event will move approximately 50 miles north to the University of San Francisco, where games will be played at War Memorial Gymnasium. This will be Santa Clara's eighth time as host, most recently in 2000, while USF will serve as host for the fourth time.
