SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Santa Clara women's basketball topped San Francisco 59-57 on Thursday night in a tight game. It was the sixth consecutive victory for the Broncos and keeps them in the race atop the West Coast Conference standings.
Despite trailing for much the fourth quarter, Santa Clara (18-5, 9-3 WCC) came up big when it had to. Marie Bertholdt hit a pair of free throws and Lori Parkinson converted a fast break layup after making a steal to put the Broncos up 58-57 with 1:24 left on the clock.
Parkinson's only other bucket of the night was also a huge one. She converted a three-point play with 3:30 left in the fourth to get the Broncos within 55-54.
"That was a huge put back and a huge steal to go coast to coast," said Santa Clara head coach JR Payne of Parkinson's late game baskets. "Those were unbelievable plays. She only had two buckets but they were huge."
San Francisco (14-9, 5-7 WCC) had the lead thanks to a 17-2 run midway through the third quarter. They turned up the defensive pressure and forced five Santa Clara turnovers while hitting five straight field goals to take a 42-33 lead.
"[Associate head coach] Toriano [Towns] lit them up the team after that run," said Payne. "He's so fiery and the players responded beautifully. Everyone was aggressive and I'm really proud of how we acted after that."
One of the biggest buckets of the night was a 3-pointer by Kyla Martin with 3:08 to go in the third that swung momentum back to the Broncos.
"That was a huge 3-pointer for us," said Payne. "Kyla is one of our better shooters and she was ready. She didn't hesitate and at that juncture we needed a bucket."
Marie Bertholdt led Santa Clara with 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds while also blocking three shots. She was 12 of 14 from the charity stripe.
None were bigger than the two she hit before the game started. San Francisco was called for an administrative technical foul for a malfunctioning light on one of the baskets. Bertholdt hit both free throws before the tip.
"We've been in a lot of close games where Marie needed to step up," said Payne. "She's our best free throw shooter and she's very confident there. I would be devastated if I was USF and the game started that way and ended like it did. I'm grateful for Marie's good free throw shooting and for our defense at the end."
The Broncos were also able to hold Taylor Proctor to just nine points. Proctor is third in the WCC with 18.4 ppg and has been held to single-digits just twice in the last 29 games, both times by Santa Clara this season.
"Like I said after the first game, Proctor is one of the premier players in this conference," said Payne. "I respect the way she plays and the type of game she has. I have no doubt she'll be great next time around. We think we're a great defensive team and trust that our defense will come through for us."
Santa Clara returns to action Thursday at 7 p.m. at San Diego.
Notes: Santa Clara has now won the most conference games in a season (9) since winning 11 in 2005-06 when the team tied for first in the WCC.

July 21, 2016
Women's Basketball Adds Two International Players

July 11, 2016
Former Women's Basketball Coach Ken Thompson Passes Away

June 2, 2016
Leavey Center Court Open for Business

April 15, 2016
Carr to Head Women's Basketball Program

March 28, 2016
Payne to Become Colorado Women’s Basketball Coach

March 15, 2016
Women's Basketball Takes On Fresno State in WNIT Friday

March 11, 2016
Leavey Center Getting a Facelift



March 1, 2016
Bertholdt and Parkinson Named First Team All-WCC

February 28, 2016
Women’s Basketball Seeded No. 4 in WCC Tournament

February 27, 2016
Women's Basketball Wins Season Finale at Pacific

February 26, 2016
Regular Season Wraps Up for Women's Basketball at Pacific

February 25, 2016
Women's Basketball Falls to Saint Mary's on Senior Day

February 22, 2016
Marie Bertholdt Named West Coast Conference Player of the Week

February 20, 2016
Bertholdt's Career Day Leads Women's Basketball Over Pepperdine

February 19, 2016
Women's Basketball Hosts Pepperdine Saturday

February 19, 2016
Three Women's Basketball Players Honored by WCC for Academic Work

February 18, 2016
Women's Basketball Rolls to 20th Win with 27-Point Victory

February 16, 2016
Women's Basketball Returns Home to Face LMU

February 13, 2016
Late Comeback Attempt Comes Up Short for Women's Basketball at BYU

February 12, 2016
Women's Basketball Picks Up Big Road Win at San Diego

February 12, 2016
Women's Basketball Travels to First Place BYU

February 9, 2016
Women's Basketball Starts Tough Road Trip at San Diego Thursday

February 5, 2016
Women's Basketball Wins Thriller at San Francisco

February 2, 2016
Women's Basketball Travels Up the Road to San Francisco Thursday

January 30, 2016
Women's Basketball Cruises by Pilots

January 29, 2016
Women's Basketball Takes Down Gonzaga for First Time in 10 Years

January 29, 2016
Women's Basketball Faces Portland Saturday to Finish Homestand

January 26, 2016
Women's Basketball Hosts Gonzaga Thursday at 6 p.m.

January 23, 2016
Fourth Quarter Runs Lift Women's Basketball Over San Francisco

January 16, 2016
Defensive Stand Lifts Women's Basketball Past Loyola Marymount

January 15, 2016
Women's Basketball Holds on at Pepperdine

January 15, 2016
Road Trip Wraps Up for Women's Basketball at LMU

January 12, 2016
Trip to Southern California Up Next for Women's Basketball

January 8, 2016
Tough Fourth Quarter Sinks Women's Basketball vs. BYU

January 8, 2016
Women's Basketball Returns to Action Saturday vs. San Diego

January 5, 2016
Women's Basketball Welcomes BYU to Leavey Thursday

December 31, 2015
Women's Basketball Beats Portland for 12th Straight Win

December 23, 2015
Seeking 12th Straight Win, Women's Basketball Heads to Portland

December 22, 2015
Women's Basketball Heads to Rival Saint Mary's Wednesday

December 21, 2015
Victory in WCC Opener Pushes Winning Streak to 10 For Women's Basketball

December 19, 2015
West Coast Conference Play Opens for Women's Basketball vs. Pacific


December 16, 2015
Nonconference Play Wraps Up for Women's Basketball with UC Santa Barbara

December 12, 2015
Women's Basketball Takes Down Texas Tech, 75-70

December 11, 2015
Morgan McGwire Receives National Jesuit Player of the Week Honors

December 10, 2015
Home Matchup with Texas Tech on Tap for Women's Basketball

December 6, 2015
Women's Basketball Faces Hope International Sunday Afternoon

December 6, 2015
Two Double-Doubles Lead Women's Basketball Over Hope International

December 5, 2015
Women’s Basketball Rolls Past Simpson, 112-34

December 2, 2015
Basketball Holiday Ticket Special Available Through Friday

November 30, 2015
Morgan McGwire Named West Coast Conference co-Player of the Week

November 30, 2015
Women's Basketball Back in Action for Three Games This Week


November 27, 2015
McGwire's Career Day Leads Women's Basketball to Third-Straight Win


November 24, 2015
Women's Basketball Knocks Off No. 13/10 Stanford on the Road

November 22, 2015
Women's Basketball Travels Up the Road to Stanford Monday

November 21, 2015
Women's Basketball Doubles Up Air Force for First Win of the Season

November 19, 2015
Meet the Future of Santa Clara Women's Basketball: Tamia Braggs


November 18, 2015
Meet the Future of Santa Clara Women's Basketball: Ashlyn Herhily

November 17, 2015
Meet the Future of Santa Clara Women's Basketball: Naomi Jimenez

November 16, 2015
Season-Opening Road Trip Ends with Loss at USC for Women's Basketball

November 14, 2015
Women's Basketball Falls in Opener at Washington

November 12, 2015
Women's Basketball Signs Three National Letters of Intent

November 12, 2015
Women's Basketball Opens Season with Pac 12 Road Swing

October 30, 2015
Santa Clara Basketball Tickets Now Available

October 28, 2015
Women's Basketball Set for 2015-16 Season; Exhibition Opener Friday

September 14, 2015
Women's Basketball Releases 2015-16 Schedule

August 26, 2015
Welcome the Future of Women's Basketball: Andraya Flor