Dec. 17, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University gained another three points tonight to stretch its Rivalry Series lead over San Jose State to 17-2 as five Broncos scored in double-figures to hand the Spartans an 81-70 defeat in a women's basketball contest at the Leavey Center.
Michelle Cozad turned in her third-straight double-double this week as she led all Broncos (4-6) with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Ashley Gonnerman and Chandice Cronk each added 16 points while Gonnerman also grabbed eight rebounds. Tracey Walker nearly added a double-double of her own, scoring 12 and pulling down nine boards, and Kayla Huss scored 14 points.
Santa Clara got the game out to a fast start as they took a quick 5-0 lead on a Gonnerman jumper and a Cozad three. The Spartans (3-5), who never led at any point of the contest, caught up and had the score tied at 15-apiece with 13:37 left in the first half, but when Gonnerman's lay-up put the Broncos ahead 17-15, they never looked back.
The Broncos stretched the lead to 11 points at 38-27 with 4:35 to go, but the Spartans closed out the half with a 10-3 run to send things into the break with a four-point spread.
In the second half San Jose State couldn't hold the Broncos, as SCU matched the Spartans shot-for-shot, never letting them back into the game. Santa Clara slowly pulled away about the 13-minute mark and from there never led by less than six.
Gonnerman and Cozad each scored 10 in the second half, while as a team SCU shot 13-for-14 from the free-throw line to help ice the games in its waning moments.
Santa Clara will head into the holidays on a high note as they have an 11-day break from competition. The next contest for the Broncos will be Wednesday, Dec. 28 against CS Northridge. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. and is the opener in a triple-header which also features the first round of the mens' Cable Car Classic. Tickets are available by calling (408) 554-4660.
