SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women's basketball played another tight, high-stress game on Monday night and this time fell to Saint Mary's 88-81 in Leavey Center. It was just their second loss at home this season.
The Gaels (12-10, 6-5 WCC) won the game at the free throw line where they went 26-of-30, including 21-of-22 in the second half and 11-of-11 in the fourth quarter. They also shot well from the field at 51.9-percent and were 6-of-15 from behind the arc.
A turnover with 24 seconds left on the clock and the Broncos (11-10, 5-6 WCC) down four led to a 3-pointer from Merle Wiehl that made the score 82-81 but Saint Mary's would finish the game on a 6-0 run, with all the points coming from the free throw line.
Ali Bamberger used her size to cause problems all night and finished with a double-double at 22 points and 10 rebounds. She was 7-of-13 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Tayla Dalton scored 18 on 6-of-8 shooting and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. Taycee Wedin scored 15 on 5-of-7 shooting and Madeline Holland scored 14 while also hitting six free throws in as many attempts.
The Broncos also used a balanced attack with five players in double-figures, led by Lindsey VanAllen's 19. Merle Wiehl was right behind her with 17 and was 5-of-8 from beyond the arc while adding seven rebounds as well. Lana Hollingsworth scored 12 with five rebounds, Lara Edmanson added 11 points, and Shayley Harris scored 10 with five boards.
Santa Clara wasn't as efficient from the field, shooting 42.9-percent for the game. The biggest culprit for the discrepancy is shooting percentage was a 1-of-8 finish to the first half and a 1-of-6 start to the second. During that span, Saint Mary's turned a one-point deficit into a seven-point lead that would hold up.
Early in the fourth, the Gaels used a 7-0 run to stretch their lead out to 69-59, the first double-digit lead of the night, but Santa Clara responded with six in a row to get right back in it. The Broncos, however, couldn't find another gear to overcome the deficit completely.
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 38-45 all-time against Saint Mary's.
- The Broncos collected assists on 19 of their 27 made baskets.
- Lindsey VanAllen is now at 1,168 career points, good for 12th all-time at Santa Clara. Next is Marie Bertholdt (2013-27) with 1,174.
- The Broncos were without Lexie Pritchard who was injured at Long Beach State. Her return is uncertain. Ashlee Maldonado is also out and will miss the entire season.
NEXT UP
Santa Clara finishes its homestand with Gonzaga Thursday at 6 p.m.
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