SANTA CLARA, Calif. — From down 10 points in the first quarter to making every single play necessary in overtime, the Santa Clara women's basketball team only got better Friday as the game went on, coming from behind to beat visiting Cal State Fullerton, 76-72, in overtime at Leavey Center.
Check out @coachbillcarr's postgame interview following tonight's 76-72 overtime victory over Cal State Fullerton ��#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/7BTQVFUA1b
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) November 12, 2022
Ashley Hiraki was one of many perfect models of the Broncos overcoming their early struggles and playing their best late in the game Friday. Hiraki committed three of Santa Clara's six turnovers in the first quarter as they fell to their largest deficit of the game at 27-17. But it was Hiraki who made one of the plays of the game late in overtime. With 8.1 seconds left and Santa Clara only up by two at 73-71, Hiraki broke up a Cal State Fullerton inbounds pass, got the steal, and in the process drew a foul from the Titans' leading scorer Fujika Nimmo, fouling her out of the game.
Did you see Ashley Hiraki's steal that all but sealed the deal tonight?!
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) November 12, 2022
With just 8.1 secs left in a 2️⃣-pt game, she stole the ball, then went to the line & made a free-throw to put the Broncos' lead at 3️⃣ -- & eliminated Cal State Fullerton's leading scorer in the process �� pic.twitter.com/Lp7lCj43xp
Though Santa Clara (1-1) had four players score double-digit points, it was perhaps the defense that shined brightest, especially late. The Broncos allowed Cal State Fullerton (0-1) to score 27 points on 52.4% shooting in the first quarter alone while not recording any steals in the entire first half. After halftime, the SCU defense forced 10 turnovers, held Cal State Fullerton to 34.5% shooting, had three steals and a block.
Tess Heal took over in the extra period, scoring 10 of the Broncos' 11 overtime points and 10 of her own 16 in the game. And this was after she started the game with only two points and a turnover in the first quarter.
Heal gave Santa Clara the lead at 70-69 with five consecutive points after the Broncos had gone scoreless for three minutes to start overtime, allowing the Titans to get out to a four-point, 69-65 lead. She made an even bigger play on the next possession after a Nimmo layup gave Cal State Fullerton the lead again at 71-70. Heal powered her way into the paint, taking contact to draw a foul and also rolled in a layup, converting a three-point play to give Santa Clara the lead for good at 73-71. She'd later ice the game with two free throws at 3.2 seconds left to put SCU up, 76-72.
OT, 17.7 | #Broncos 73, @FullertonWBB 71
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) November 12, 2022
��TESS HEAL GETS THE STEAL, THE BASKET, AND THE HARM!!!��
Broncos up by 2 with less than 20 seconds to go!#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/tLqvJ2O7SF
Ayzhiana Basallo had her breakout game as a Bronco on Friday. She scored a team-high 22 points, including four 3-pointers, while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing five assists. It was Basallo who hit the game-tying basket with 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Heal found her in open space after dribbling through the paint, and Basallo knocked it down to make it 65-all. Olivia Pollerd – who finished with 14 points and three 3-pointers – got a block down at the other end, but the Broncos couldn't get a shot off before the shot clock ran out, and Cal State Fullerton missed their final shot, sending the game to overtime.
Lara Edmanson was the fourth Bronco with double-figure points, scoring 10 and barely missing a double-double with nine boards. She had half of Santa Clara's 10 offensive rebounds in the game with five of her own. Santa Clara had 18 assists on 27 of their made baskets (66.7%) and had 41 total rebounds to Cal State Fullerton's 42. Heal's 16 points also came with a well-rounded performance of six rebounds, seven assists, a steal and only one turnover.
Santa Clara's season-opening home stand concludes Monday when it hosts Sacramento State at 6 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
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