Dec. 20, 2004
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This Week
Santa Clara will close the non-conference season with a four-game homestand. The Broncos will open at Leavey on Tuesday, hosting Tulsa, and will follow after Christmas with Nevada on Dec. 28, Portland State on Dec. 30 and Eastern Washington on Jan. 2. The Golden Hurricanes are 7-1 on the season, taking their first loss of the year to Stephen F. Austin last Thursday. Six players are averaging more than eight points per outing, led by Jillian Robbins' 14.5 average. She also leads the team in rebounding, with a 9.5 per game mark.
Three-Point Game
Santa Clara's offense is focused on long ball, as the Broncos are averaging 9.7 three-point field goals made per outing, a .375 clip over nine contests. Quinn Thomas has made 27 treys at a .360 percentage, and Ashley Graham follows with 26, .464. The Broncos have historically led the West Coast Conference in this category, and last season broke the league season record for threes made during conference play. In November, Santa Clara made 13 three-pointers at Hawaii, tying a program record for a game and setting a Rainbow Wahine Classic new mark. Last week, Santa Clara topped that with 14 threes at Wisconsin, also an opponent record for the Badgers.
Rising Phoenix
Senior guard Quinn Thomas nailed seven three-point field goals en route to setting a career-high 33 points at UW-Green Bay on Saturday afternoon. In fact, she scored 58 points for the Broncos in "America's Dairyland" state this past weekend, and topped a career-high 25 points she had just set Thursday night against UW in Madison, behind five treys. Her seven threes against the Phoenix was one short of tying an individual game record for the Bronco program. She shot .500 from the field. She shot .444 from behind the arc this weekend.
Thomas also found success behind the arc last season against UW-Green Bay, scoring 18 points with a 6-12 effort from long range.
Nationally Speaking
Santa Clara is averaging an NCAA-best 9.7 three-point field goals per contest. Sophomore guard Ashley Graham is ranked 11th in three-point field goals made per game (2.9) and 21st in percentage (.464). Quinn Thomas is ranked seventh in per game average, with 3.0.
Four Broncos Net Career Highs at Wisconsin
Quinn Thomas (25), Ashley Graham (27), Chandice Cronk (11) and Kasey Monteith (10) all recorded career highs in scoring against Wisconsin last Thursday. The quartet accounted for 70 percent (51-73) of the Broncos' attempts, and converted 55 percent (28-51) of them Monteith was the most accurate, going a perfect 5-5 from the field. Thomas outdid herself less than 48 hours later, improving her personal best to 33 points at UW-Green Bay. Lauren Michalski also notched a new career high against the Phoenix, with 14 points.
Playing the Nation's Best
The Bronco program is known to play a tough schedule on a regular basis, and this year's is no exception. The Broncos recently faced three top-25 teams in a 15-day span, taking on 13th-ranked Michigan State and No. 3 Georgia at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, and following with a contest against No. 16 Minnesota last weekend. Additionally, one of last week's non-conference opponents, UW-Green Bay, is receiving votes in the Associated Press poll.
Live on the Internet
Santa Clara's entire schedule returns to the Internet, as a live audio broadcast was available for a fourth 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 can 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 fourth season.
Leading the WCC
Santa Clara leads the league in scoring offense, averaging 71.1 points per outing, and in three-point field goals made per game, averaging 9.7 each contest. The Broncos are second in three-point field goal percentage (.375) and three-point field goal defense (.325). Individually, Santa Clara is the only squad to have four players rank in the top 20 in league scoring, showcasing the team's depth and talent. Quinn Thomas is fifth (15.6) and followed by Ashley Graham in sixth (13.1), while Michelle Cozad is 14th (9.7) and Ashley Gonnerman is 20th (8.0). Graham leads the WCC in three-point field goals made (2.9) and is second in three-point field goal percentage (.464), while ranking third in assist/turnover ration (1.35), and fifth in assists (3.29) and field goal percentage (.500). Thomas is second in assist/turnover ratio (1.75), third in three-point field goals made (3.0) and sixth in assists (3.00). Cozad is first in three-point field goal percentage (.500) and sixth in three-point field goals made (1.57). Gonnerman is ranked eighth in blocked shots (0.86).
A Look Ahead: Broncos Remain Close to Home during Holidays
Santa Clara will close the non-conference season with a continued four-game homestand, following after Christmas with Nevada on Dec. 28, Portland State on Dec. 30 and Eastern Washington on Jan. 2.
On TV
The Broncos are scheduled to make one television appearance this season during the WCC slate. Santa Clara will play at Saint Mary's in a Saturday, February 12 game that will tip-off at 7 p.m., with live coverage by Fox Sports Bay Area.
Season/Game Tickets on Sale
Season and individual game tickets for Santa Clara University's nationally-recognized basketball team are on sale through the Department of Athletics' official website SantaClaraBroncos.com, and the athletic ticket office at 408-554-4660, between the hours of 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In conjunction with its exclusive Internet partner, College Sports Online, the athletic department has developed an online ticket application that provides fans with the ability to purchase season tickets, family plans, individual matches or an all-sports pass via the official athletic website. A basketball season ticket package that includes the 14 home games is available for the adult price of $75 for general admission, while a family plan provides a family of five admission to each game for the low price of $100. Youth (12 and under) and senior (over 65-years-old) season tickets are also available for $40. Single matches are priced at $7 for adult general admission, $5 for youths and seniors and $2 for SCU students as well Bronco Kidz members. Single game team passes are also available for $35.
Breakfast Club
Santa Clara began a new tradition with the first Breakfast Club meeting November 1, a gathering to be held monthly and hosted by Bronco head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. The energized group meetings are held at The Hungry Hound restaurant near campus, with Bento-Jackson briefing the guests on current program events and over a continental breakfast. Future Breakfast Club dates are January 4 and February 7. Cost is $6 per person and the event is held from 7 to 8 a.m. To participate in future Breakfast Clubs, please contact assistant coach Tanya Bauer.
