SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University women's basketball team has been through a lot in 2022-23.
Starters have missed double-digits' worth of games, two losses by baskets within the last 0.8 seconds of the game, there have been big wins and close defeats – all within the same week sometimes.
But the Broncos have stayed unfazed.
Thursday, Santa Clara continued its season-long growth, overcoming a 12-point first quarter deficit and holding on late to beat first-place and No. 17/18-ranked Gonzaga, 77-72 – its first win over the Bulldogs in seven seasons – in a West Coast Conference shootout at Leavey Center.
Check out Head @coachbillcarr's postgame interview from tonight's upset win! ��
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) February 3, 2023
Aaaannnddd... let's watch that celly one more time -- why not ��#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/OrEGGnKNCK
The Broncos (14-10, 5-6 WCC) fell behind by 11, and two minutes later by 12, in the first quarter. No. 17/18 Gonzaga (21-3, 11-1) led 20-8 at the 2:29 mark of the opening period.
But the Broncos stayed unfazed.
Santa Clara responded with a 19-4 run that spanned the end of the first and into the second. It erased a 12-point deficit to take a three-point, 27-24 lead three minutes into the second quarter. The Broncos hit five 3-pointers during that run – half of their total treys on the night – while forcing the Bulldogs to commit four turnovers and shoot 40.0% after they started the game shooting 66.7% (8 for 12).
Santa Clara had four players score in double figures on a night when it shot 53.1% as a team and scored 77 points against the WCC's best scoring defense (59.6 points per game allowed coming into Thursday's game). It was the Broncos' first win over Gonzaga since beating them, 59-58, in the 2016 WCC Tournament in Las Vegas on March 3, 2016. It was the first time Santa Clara defeated a nationally ranked opponent (AP Poll) since beating No. 15 Stanford on Nov. 23, 2015.
Defending WCC Freshman of the Week (and eight-time winner) Tess Heal led the Broncos with 16 points. She added three assists, two rebounds and a steal. Olivia Pollerd hit four 3-pointers – second-most she's ever hit in a game – to score 14 points with six rebounds and a career-high five blocks, all off the bench. Ashley Hiraki chipped in 13 points with four assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Marya Hudgins added 12 points with five rebounds, two blocks, a steal and an assist.
Q4, 7:17 | #Broncos 64, @ZagWBB 50
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) February 3, 2023
Tess Heal with another 3️⃣ pointer!
The 8️⃣ time WCC Freshman of the week. #StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/KTrEP470AA
Gonzaga was led by a game-high 26 points from Yvonne Ejim. She added seven rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block. Kaylynn Truong scored 16 points with four made 3-pointers, three assists, two rebounds and two steals. Brynna Maxwell added 12 points, all on four made 3s.
Santa Clara forced the Bulldogs to commit 18 turnovers – their third-most in a game this year. The Broncos would score 18 points off those turnovers. But Gonzaga scored 25 points off 18 Santa Clara giveaways. The Bulldogs won the rebounding battle, 30-24, they won the battle in the paint, 32-28, and they outshot the Broncos from 3-point range, 56.3% to 50.0%.
So where was the game won?
Santa Clara made 15 of 18 free throws (83.3%), making four more than Gonzaga even attempted (9 for 11). Most importantly, the Broncos went 8 for 10 in the game's final 30 seconds. Gonzaga made four 3-pointers in the game's final four minutes, getting as close as two points twice in the final 30 seconds. But the Broncos' free-throw shooting held them off.
Santa Clara next hosts co-WCC leader Portland at 2 p.m. Saturday. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
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