SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Led by the West Coast Conference's leading scorer, Santa Clara women's basketball finished with a fury and beat Portland 76-66 Saturday afternoon in Leavey Center.
The Broncos (14-11, 8-7 WCC) found themselves down five with just over seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter after the Pilots (16-8, 6-6 WCC) scored the first six points of the period but Lindsey VanAllen sparked a 12-0 run and Santa Clara outscored Portland 24-9 the rest of the way to come away with the 10-point victory.
The 12-0 run featured four 3-pointers, three from VanAllen and one from Merle Wiehl, and saw the Broncos get on top 64-57. The Pilots would come back with the next five and get within two, but Santa Clara followed with a 10-0 run to get the lead back out to double-figures.
VanAllen led all scorers with 24 points, 15 coming in the second half, and was 4-of-6 from downtown. Both Wiehl and Lara Edmanson just missed double-doubles. Wiehl scored 11 with a career-high nine assists and Edmanson scored 10 with eight rebounds. Also scoring 10 was Ashley Hiraki and Bryce Nixon.
Portland came out on fire and made its first seven shots of the game. The Pilots would stretch their lead in the first to as many as nine but five in a row to end the period got the Broncos right back in it.
The hot shooting kept up all game as Portland finished the day at 56.5-percent from the field. The Broncos weren't far behind, shooting 50.0-percent and going 9-of-18 from beyond the arc.
Santa Clara took advantage of turnovers all day and kept the ball moving. The Broncos forced 18 while committing 11 and used them to hold a 36-14 advantage in points off turnovers. They also collected 22 assists on 28 made baskets.
Maisie Burnham led Portland with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting and added 10 boards for the double-double. Rose Pflug scored 16 with 13 coming in the first half and Alex Fowler scored 14 with eight assists and six rebounds while Lucy Cochrane scored 12 and had six assists.
Things started to even out in the second quarter and an 8-0 run, featuring 3-pointers from VanAllen and Nixon, gave Santa Clara a two-point lead midway through the second period. Portland would retake the lead but the Broncos closed the first half on a 9-2 run, with the last six coming from VanAllen, to take a 37-32 lead into the break.
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 49-33 all-time against Portland.
- Lindsey VanAllen is now at 1,252 career points, good for 10th all-time at Santa Clara. Next is Suzanne Ressa (1992-96) with 1,262.
- 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.
HIGHLIGHTS
Some highlights from our 11th home dub of the season--going for No. 12 vs BYU next Thursday night!#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/TqGoLzeF8Q
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) February 20, 2022
INTERVIEWS
Head coach Bill Carr and @WCChoops scoring leader @lindseyvanallen talk about Saturday's comeback win over Portland.#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/xNGXkqcTce
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) February 20, 2022
NEXT UP
Santa Clara heads to Gonzaga Monday at 2 p.m.
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