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SANTA CLARA, Calif. – With nonconference play in the rearview mirror, Santa Clara women's basketball opens West Coast Conference action vs. Pacific on Monday at 6 p.m. The team topped UC Santa Barbara to extend its winning-streak to the longest in 10 years.

The Broncos finished nonconference play on a nine-game winning streak. It is the longest winning streak since the team also won nine in a row during the 2005-06 season.

Santa Clara's nine nonconference wins are the most in a season since winning 11 against nonconference opponents in 2007-08. That year the Broncos finished 20-11, the last season they won 20 or more games.

"I am really pleased with how our team has grown throughout our preseason," said Santa Clara head coach JR Payne. "We have played a lot of different types of teams and I believe that will help prepare us for conference play. The most exciting thing for me is that our team is really beginning to understand how we want to play as far as style of play. We understand that we have great potential within our team if we play with a certain amount of toughness and discipline."

Santa Clara (9-2) is winning with its defense. The Broncos are allowing just 56.6 points per game and holding opponents to 35.3 percent (204 of 578) shooting from the floor. They are forcing 24.2 turnovers per game and collecting 13.6 steals per game. They are also dominating on the glass with a 42.6-32.4 edge in rebounds per game.

Morgan McGwire leads Santa Clara with 14.2 ppg on a team-best 57.9 percent (66 of 114) shooting from the floor. She is second on the team with 6.5 rpg and has added 2.0 spg. Savanna Hanson leads the Broncos with 12 threes made and is scoring 10.1 ppg. Hanson also leads the team with 2.9 apg and has added 2.4 spg. Lori Parkinson is tops on the team with 6.6 rpg and is adding 10.3 ppg as well. Taylor Berry leads the WCC with 3.2 spg and is adding 7.2 ppg to go with 3.7 rpg.

Santa Clara is 25-20 all-time vs. Pacific with the first meeting coming in 1974-75. Last year the Broncos dropped both games against the Tigers.

Pacific (7-4) finished nonconference play 4-3 on the road and picked up a win at North Carolina. Last week they topped Stanislaus State and Nevada at home.

"Conference is everything that we train for, and the WCC is unbelievably tough this year," said Payne. "Preseason records go out the window and everyone has a fresh slate once conference play begins. Pacific is very athletic and has a lot of returners from last year's team. They shoot the ball extremely well and will be tough to defend. Both teams will be excited for WCC play to begin so I expect it will be a great matchup."

The Tigers are outscoring teams 69.5-66.2 and being outrebounded 43.4-42.6. They shoot 37.5 percent (271 of 722) from the field and 31.4 percent (81 of 258) from beyond the arc.

Hailie Eackles leads Pacific with 14.2 ppg and 29 3-pointers made. GeAnna Lauulu-Summers is second on the team with 13.0 ppg and 5.6 rpg. She leads the way with 4.3 apg. Mauriana Clayton leads the Tigers with 7.4 rpg and is scoring 4.2 ppg.