Dec. 17, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team returns to the Mission Campus this week for three games. SCU hosts Nevada on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., Boise State on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m., and West Virginia on Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. All games are held at the Leavey Center.
Follow Your Broncos Online
Santa Clara fans can watch all the action this weekend via Bronco All-Access. Sam Farber will be calling all the action from courtside at the Leavey Center. Live stats will also be available via www.SantaClaraBroncos.com.
Last Time Out
Santa Clara played its last game of its seven game road swing last weekend and faced a hard-fought loss to Utah, 73-53. Redshirt freshman Rhianna Faithfull had a standout game scoring a career-high 13 points and four three-pointers. Lena Gipson tallied her seventh double-double of the year with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Elizabeth Doran scored 12 points as well on four three-pointers.
Bronco Watch
Forward Gipson continues to lead the team in points and rebounds, averaging a double-double with 12.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Senior Claire Goins continues to lead the team's shooting with a 56.3 field goal percentage. Alyssa Shoji owns a team-best 85.7 free throw percentage, while Doran leads in three-point field goal shooting with a 35.0 percentage. Sara Majors has dished out 29 assists thus far, while Gipson leads with 15 steals and seven blocks.
It's Raining Threes
The Broncos are at it again! Last weekend, Doran and Faithfull set career-highs for three-pointers in a single game. Both posted four 3FGs to lead the game. Santa Clara has 43 treys thus far.
Off The Boards
For the fifth straight week, Gipson leads the West Coast Conference in rebounds. She averages a league-best 10.8 per game. She ranks No. 1 in rebounds and No. 1 in defensive rebounds with 7.60 per game.
Bronco Blogging
Fans can get an insiders look at the SCU Women's Basketball season via a weekly blog feature on www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. Seniors Doran and Majors will blog about the preseason and in season antics of the Broncos, while junior Kimee Goeggel will cover the after the season happenings.
Under the Bright Lights
The Broncos second home game of the West Coast Conference schedule against the Bulldogs of Gonzaga will be featured on live national television on CBS College Sports. The game time is slated for 7 p.m. at the Leavey Center. Please check local listings for channels.
Scouting Nevada
The Wolf Pack enters Thursday's game with a 4-5 overall record. Nevada is 0-4 on the road this season. The Wolf Pack advanced to the WNIT last season and, from that squad, returns four starters. In its last outing, Nevada fell 62-47 to UCLA. Brandi Jones led the game with 16 points, while Dellena Criner added 13 points on 11 free throws and one FG. PACK PLAYERS TO WATCH: Criner - 15.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 18 stls; Jones - 10.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg; Cherlanda Franklin - 7.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 9 blks.
Last Time vs. Nevada
The Broncos and Wolf Pack last met in the 2007-08 season opener on Nov. 9, 2007. Nevada defeated Santa Clara, 62-51. Shavon Moore had 10 points for the Wolf Pack, while Doran led the Broncos with 16 points and had seven rebounds.
All-Time vs. Nevada
Thursday's game marks the 23rd meeting of the two programs in a series that Santa Clara leads 12-10.
Scouting Boise State
The Broncos enter Saturday's game with a 5-6 overall record. Boise State is 1-4 on the road this season. In their last outing, the Broncos fell 72-68 to LMU. Brittany Moore tallied 17 points and Jenna Galassi added 14 for Boise State. BRONCOS TO WATCH: Marisa Stotler - 10.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 15 stls; Janie Bos - 6.4 rpg; Courtney VanBrocklin - 18 stls, 6.5 ppg
Last Time vs. Boise State
The last battle of the Broncos happened on Nov. 17, 2007 at the Leavey Center. Santa Clara posted a 73-51 victory. Doran had 18 points and was perfect from the charity stripe, while Tasha Harris led Boise State with 14 points.
Did You Know...
Current SCU assistant coach J.R. Payne was an assistant coach at Boise State from the 2005-06 season to the 2007-08 season.
All-Time vs. Boise State
Saturday's game marks the sixth Battle of the Broncos. Santa Clara leads the series, 4-1.
Scouting West Virginia
The Mountaineers will face the Bulldogs of Fresno State on Saturday before heading to the Mission Campus on Monday. WVU is 7-2 on the season and faced its second loss last weekend against Indiana, 77-73. Takisha Granberry had 22 points and nine rebounds for WVU while Liz Repella had 20 points and Sarah Miles added 19 points and eight boards. MOUNTAINEERS TO WATCH: Repella - 15.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 14 stls, 5 blks; Granberry - 15.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 17 stls; Miles - 10.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 18 stls, 7 blks.
Did You Know...
Santa Clara is 3-1 all-time against current members of the BIG EAST Conference.
Last Time vs. West Virginia
First Meeting.
All-Time vs. West Virginia
First Meeting.
On Deck
The Broncos return to action on Dec. 28 against the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Thunderdome in Santa Barbara.
