SANTA CLARA, Calif. – A fast start didn't hold up as Santa Clara women's basketball lost to California Baptist 58-54 Saturday afternoon in Leavey Center.
After a tremendous first quarter that featured a 15-0 run and saw the Broncos (5-4) on top 21-8, a lid was placed on the hoop and the Lancers (8-2), who didn't shoot well either, were able to slowly get back into the game before taking the lead for good in the fourth.
For the game, Santa Clara shot just 25.4-percent from the floor and went 5-of-23 from deep. California Baptist only managed a mark of 29.0-percent and were a miserable 5-of-24 from beyond the arc.
Turnovers proved to play a pivotal role in the final outcome. The Broncos committed 16 and forced 10 but the Lancers were better at taking advantage, holding a 14-2 edge in points off turnovers.
A 40-32 lead at the start of the final period for Santa Clara was erased as California Baptist scored the first 11 points of the quarter. After a bucket from Bryce Nixon, Britney Thomas went on a 6-0 run on her own to stretch the lead to 49-42 at the 4:41 mark. For the quarter 13 of the Lancers' 26 points came from the free throw line.
Thomas finished the day with a game-high 16 points and was 8-for-12 from the free throw line. Ane Olaeta added 13 and was 4-of-6 from the field with six rebounds while Caitlyn Harper scored 12. Georgia Dale pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
Santa Clara's 15-0 run early in the first featured three 3-pointers in a row from Lana Hollingsworth, who scored seven during the run, Lara Edmanson, and Nixon. The Lancers meanwhile missed eight shots in a row.
Hollingsworth led the team with 12 points but was 3-of-17 from the field. She did manage to pull down a career-high nine rebounds. Merle Wiehl finished with her first double-double of the season, 10 points and a career-best 13 rebounds. Ashley Hiraki scored 10 and also set a career mark with eight rebounds. Danja Stafford also pulled down eight boards, another career-best.
In total, Santa Clara won the battle of the boards 55-45 and 17-8 on the offensive glass but could only turn that into a 17-8 advantage in second chance points.
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 0-1 all-time against California Baptist.
- The Broncos were without Lindsey VanAllen who suffered an ankle injury at Kansas City. A timetable for her return is uncertain.
- Santa Clara had 12 assists on 17 made baskets.
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The Broncos finish nonconference play Monday at 2 p.m. against Holy Names.
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