Jan. 8, 2005
PORTLAND, Ore. - Four Broncos netted double digits in scoring to lead a balanced Santa Clara University attack in a 93-79 victory over Portland this afternoon in women's basketball action at the Chiles Centre. Senior guard Quinn Thomas led the charge with 21 points as the Broncos are now 7-8 on the season, 1-1 in West Coast Conference play.
The 93 points is the largest scoring output for the team so far this season. Sophomore guard Ashley Graham made five free throws in the final two minutes to secure the victory and finished with 18 points and seven assists. Kasey Monteith recorded a new career high with 16 points and added seven rebounds, and Tori Markey followed with 13 in other Bronco performances. Thomas added seven rebounds and four steals.
Portland falls to 5-10, 0-2. Ashlee Orndorff led a quartet of Pilots that reached double figures, posting 25 points and added a game-high 10 rebounds, while also blocking four shots. Whitney Grant added 16 points, while Amy Botto and Jamie Medley netted 13 each.
The Broncos finished with 12 threes on the afternoon, and out-rebounded Portland 41-39, while shooting over the.500 mark for the second time this season.
Santa Clara started strong, with Thomas stealing the ball on Portland's first possession and taking it to the other end for a lay-up. She followed with a three from the left wing on an inbound play, and SCU went up 8-3 when Tracey Walker hit a three from the same spot on the Broncos' next possession. Portland's first three points were from the free throw line, as the Pilots started 0-6 from the field.
Thomas netted another steal and converted at the other end to extend the Bronco lead to 23-14. Anna Martin then hit an 18-foot jumper to push the team's lead to double digits, 30-20, at the eight-minute media time out.
Thomas netted her 200th career three-pointer with 1:37 remaining in the half to give the Broncos a 41-28 lead. Portland then went on a 9-0 run to close the period. Grant sparked the Pilot surge with a three, and followed with a steal on the Broncos' next possession. Grant found Meagan Bermingham on the fast break for two more points and then closed the run with a pull-up jumper from 15 feet to reduce SCU's advantage to four, 41-37, at the break. Grant led the Pilots with 11 at the half.
Portland stayed close early in the second half, and pulled within three before the Broncos used the long ball to return to a double-digit lead. SCU pushed ahead to 11, 62-51, behind two threes from Thomas and a trey from Graham. The Pilots once again reduced the lead, pulling within one on an 11-1 run.
Santa Clara responded with its own run, netting the next seven points and extending the lead to as many as 16 points.
Santa Clara will return home to the Leavey Center in continuing WCC action. The Broncos will host Saint Mary's on Saturday at 7 p.m.
