STOCKTON, Calif. – Down three starters and playing its third game in five days, Santa Clara women's basketball nearly pulled off a second half comeback at Pacific but fell 74-69 Monday night.
Trailing almost the entire game, the Broncos (10-8, 4-4 WCC) battled back multiple times before finally taking their first lead of the game with five-straight points to open the fourth quarter.
It was short-lived as the Tigers (5-13, 2-5 WCC) would retake the lead for good 90 seconds later with a 9-2 run, capped by Jordan Cruz's 3-pointer with 4:58 to go in the period.
Santa Clara still scrapped and got back within one when Lindsey VanAllen knocked down a jumper with 55 seconds to go that made it a 70-69 contest, but again Pacific responded, this time with a layup from Josephine Millard and a pair of free throws over the final 14 seconds as the Broncos missed their final three shots.
This was the second game in a row that Santa Clara was without regular starters Ashley Hiraki (last three games), Lana Hollingsworth, and Lara Edmanson. Hiraki had started the first 14 games of the year before this stretch. Edmanson had started the first 16 games of the year and Hollingsworth had started 11 of the last 12 and appeared in all 16.
Things couldn't have started much better for the Tigers who scored the first eight points of the game and led 25-16 after one quarter. They did it by shooting 41.9-percent from the field and knocking down nine 3-pointers in 21 tries while also holding a 38-20 advantage in points in the paint.
Anaya James led the way with a triple-double. She scored 13 points, pulled down 13 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists. Elizabeth Elliot led the team in scoring with 18 on 8-of-14 shooting to go with six rebounds and Liz Smith scored 17. Jordan Cruz also chipped in 12 points.
Santa Clara finished the night at 33.8-percent from the field and were just 8-of-27 from downtown. The Broncos did have an advantage at the free throw line, hitting 17-of-20 with Pacific just 3-of-6.
Merle Wiehl led the team with 17 points but was 6-of-17 from the field. VanAllen scored 15 but also struggled shooting, going 6-of-21. Bryce Nixon was 5-of-17 shooting and scored 13 with Danja Stafford pulling down nine rebounds.
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 32-27 all-time against Pacific.
- Lindsey VanAllen is now at 1,093 career points, good for 18th all-time at Santa Clara. Next is Jenny Baldwin (1991-95) with 1,096.
- The Broncos were without Lexie Pritchard who was injured at Long Beach State. Her return is uncertain. Ashley Hiraki who started the first 14 games of the year was also out for the third game in a row. Lana Hollingsworth and Lara Edmanson were out for this game as well. Edmanson had started the first 16 games of the year and Hollingsworth had started 11 of the last 12 and appeared in all 16. Ashlee Maldonado is also out and will miss the entire season.
- For the third game in a row, associate head coach Michael Floyd led the team from the sidelines.
NEXT UP
Santa Clara comes stays on the road and plays at Saint Mary's Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
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