MORAGA, Calif. — Tess Heal scored 20 points for the third straight game and the Santa Clara University women's basketball team stormed back in the second half, but host Saint Mary's went on a key 14-5 run in the fourth quarter that allowed it to hold on for an 89-79 West Coast Conference win at University Credit Union Pavilion.
Heal scored 20 points Saturday to follow up her season-best 29-point performance on Thursday at Pacific. Like Thursday, she surged in the second half, scoring 15 of her 20 after halftime. Heal almost had a double-double with eight rebounds while adding an assist.
Santa Clara (14-13, 5-9 WCC) had four players score in double figures. Lara Edmanson scored 13 points with four rebounds. Lexie Pritchard scored 11 with six rebounds, an assist and a steal. Marya Hudgins scored 11 points with four rebounds, two steals and a block.
Santa Clara trailed by eight, 42-34, at halftime, and Saint Mary's pushed its lead to as much as 12 three minutes into the third. The Broncos responded later in the frame with a 13-3 run that made it a one-point game at 57-56. Lara Edmanson scored eight points in a row over a minute-and-a-half stretch to give Santa Clara its first lead since early in the second quarter at 60-59. Wedin hit a running jumper before the third ended, giving SMC back a one-point advantage at 61-60.
Q3, 2:38 | @GaelsWBB 57, #Broncos 56
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) February 12, 2023
Lara Edmanson with the putback and we've got a 1️⃣-point game!#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/XkqOqBWdSI
The Broncos took the lead again 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, 66-65, on a layup from Pritchard – but that was the last lead they'd hold. Saint Mary's took off on a decisive 14-5 run over the next six minutes, eventually leading 79-71 with 2:29 to play. Santa Clara went 1 for 8 from the floor during the Gaels' run. SMC outrebounded Santa Clara, 15-2, during that stretch.
Santa Clara led by as many as seven in the first quarter and still led by six, 25-19, after Olivia Pollerd hit a 3-pointer two minutes into the second. But like Thursday at Pacific, the Broncos went cold in the second quarter, getting outscored 24-12 in the period. Saint Mary's went on a 13-0 run to flip a six-point deficit into a seven-point lead at 32-25. The Broncos committed four turnovers and missed their only shot during SMC's run.
Saint Mary's (12-14, 6-9 WCC) was led by two 20-point performances. Taycee Wedin scored a game-high 23 points with four 3-pointers. Ali Bamberger had a double-double off the bench, scoring 21 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. The Gaels outrebounded Santa Clara, 42-32, and shot 50.0% from the field. It marked the fourth consecutive game that a Broncos opponent has had more rebounds and shot 42.7% or better.
Santa Clara returns to Leavey Center to host BYU and San Diego, respectively, on Thursday and Saturday for their final home games of the season. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
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