Nov. 23, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team returns to the Leavey Center to host Long Beach State on Sunday, Nov. 25. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Last Week for the Broncos
Santa Clara went 1-1 at the 2007 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, which was held on Nov. 20-21 at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska. In their first round contest, the Bronco defeated Bradley, 69-61. Senior Jen Gottschalk recorded a team-high 22 points, while senior Tracey Walker nearly registered a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. With the win, SCU advanced to the title game.
Santa Clara earned a second place finish in the Shootout, falling to host Alaska Anchorage 52-50 in the last five seconds of the game. Senior Chandice Cronk had a team-leading performance in the final game of her homecoming. The Wasilla, Alaska native posted 20 points and five rebounds.
The Broncos enter Sunday's game with a 3-2 overall record. Gottschalk leads the team with 79 points, 34 rebounds and 10 steals. Cronk is second on the team with 74 points and 20 rebounds. Redshirt junior Sara Majors leads SCU with 18 assists, while Elizabeth Doran is first on the squad in blocked shots with five.
Gottschalk and Cronk Receive All-Tournament Team Honors
Seniors Gottschalk and Cronk were named to the 2007 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament team after posting team-leading performances.
At the end of the tournament, Cronk finished first on the team with 18.0 points per game and tied Gottschalk with 3.5 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Gottschalk registered 15.5 points per game.
The duo combined for a .581 field goal percentage and a .454 shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Two Broncos Post Career Days Against Bradley
Senior Walker and junior Doran each had career performance against the Braves of Bradley in the first round of the 2007 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout.
Walker recorded career-bests in points (19), field goals (7), 3-PT field goals (3), 3-PT field goal attempts (6) and assists (7). Meanwhile, Doran tallied personal-highs in field goal attempts (13), 3-PT field goals (3), 3PT field goal attempts (6), assists (2), blocked shots (2) and minutes played (33).
In the WCC
As of Nov. 23, Santa Clara is tied for third in the standings with Portland. As a team, the Broncos are ranked first in scoring defense, three-point field goals made and three-point field goal percentage. SCU is third in free throw percentage and fourth in field goal percentage, while claiming the No. 5 spot in assists and steals.
Individually, Gottschalk is ranked in five different statistical categories. She is fourth overall in scoring, sixth in defensive rebounds, seventh in steals, eighth in three-point field goal percentage, and ninth in rebounding.
Cronk checks in this week at No. 1 in three-point field goals made, third in three-point field goal percentage, seventh in scoring and eighth in field goal percentage.
Junior Doran is also ranked in four categories this week. She is second in three-point field goal percentage, third in free throw percentage, fifth in three-point field goals made and tied for 10th place overall in blocked shots.
Redshirt junior Majors rounds out the Broncos ranked this week as she is sixth overall in assists.
Scouting Long Beach State
Long Beach State enters the weekend with a 0-2 overall record and faces San Jose State Friday night before playing Santa Clara on Sunday. In their last outing, the 49ers fell 83-66 to Loyola Marymount. In that contest, Courtney Jacob led the Beach with 17 points, while Kaiti O'Brien registered 10 points.
For the season, Long Beach State is led by Jacob, who averages 12.0 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game. Karina Figueroa is second on the team with 22 points and 12 assists. As a team Long Beach State is 36-for-46 from the free throw line.
All-Time vs. Long Beach State
Sunday's contest marks the second meeting of these two teams. They last met on Nov. 12, 2006, when the Broncos posted a 76-67 victory. In that game, Cronk registered 24 points and five rebounds, while Walker had eight points, six rebounds and four assists.
On Deck
The Broncos return to action on Thursday, Nov. 29 against the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Leavey Center.
