Feb. 3, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Six Broncos netted double digits in scoring as the Santa Clara University women's basketball team easily handled Portland in a 95-58 victory tonight at the Leavey Center. The Broncos are now 11-10 overall, 5-3 in league action. Portland was led by Jaime Medley's 18-point, 11-rebound effort, but fall to 6-15, 1-7.
Santa Clara shot 50 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Pilots 43-31. The Broncos netted a season-high 17 steals, including five from Michelle Cozad in the first half. She also led all scorers with 19 points. Chandice Cronk followed with 16 points, just missing out on a double-double with nine rebounds. Forwards Ashley Gonnerman and Tori Markey came off the bench for 13 and 12 points, respectively, and Anna Martin added 11. Sara Majors scored 10 points in 11 minutes, establishing a new personal best. Kayla Huss posted a season-high nine assists in another strong Bronco performance.
Cozad earned her first start of the season tonight, and kicked off scoring for both teams with a three-pointer. That sparked a 9-0 run for the home squad, who never trailed in this contest. Portland pulled within three, 14-11 at the 12:08 mark on a Meagan Bermingham jumper, but then did not score in the next three minutes. During that span, SCU scored 11 straight, a run that was sparked by back-to-back threes from Cozad.
Santa Clara extended its lead to as many as 18, at 33-15 with seven minutes remaining in the period. The Broncos kept that margin through halftime, heading into the locker rooms with a 46-28 lead. Cozad had 14 points at the break, five steals and four rebounds, while Cronk had already contributed 10 points and seven boards.
The Broncos offense kept going in the second half, as reserves played valuable minutes and shot almost 57 percent from the field. A jumper by Gonnerman pushed SCU to a 30-point lead, 66-36, and a lay-up by Majors at 3:38 made it a 92-52 game, a 40-point edge. Santa Clara's largest lead was at 41 points.
Amy Botto added 19 points and six rebounds for the Pilots.
Santa Clara remains at home and will host league-leading Gonzaga on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The athletic department is celebrating National Women in Sports Day during this contest, and all youths mentioning the celebration will be admitted for $2.
