LOS ANGELES — One last week to snap out of it. One last chance to get back on track. One last chance to build momentum for the postseason.
And Thursday, the Santa Clara University women's basketball team did just that.
Powered by four players scoring in double figures, the Broncos dominated host LMU to snap their five-game skid, beating the Lions, 80-51, in a West Coast Conference matchup at Gersten Pavilion.
Even in recent defeats, the Broncos (15-15, 6-11 WCC) have been getting progressively stronger since last week. Including Thursday's win, they've allowed fewer points than the previous game three times in a row. After allowing 80-plus points in three straight defeats at the beginning of February, they've allowed under 80, under 70, and on Thursday under 60 in their last three contests.
Tess Heal and Olivia Pollerd both scored 18 points to lead all players. Lara Edmanson scored 16 – her eighth double-digit scoring game in her last 11 – and added a team-high six rebounds. Lexie Pritchard scored 10 points, grabbed two rebounds, dished two assists and swiped two steals, all in 18 minutes off the bench.
Santa Clara collected 16 total steals, its second time doing so this season. The last time they had 16 before doing so against Pacific on Jan. 14 was nearly two years ago, also against LMU in the WCC Tournament on March 8, 2021, in Las Vegas. The Broncos have won six straight against the Lions dating to Feb. 16, 2021.
COAST 2️⃣ COAST@Santaclarawbb | #WCChoops pic.twitter.com/vsI4nYU1W3
— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) February 24, 2023
LMU (7-21, 4-13 WCC) was led by a 10-points, 10-rebounds double-double from Alexis Mark, and 10 points from Khari Clark. The Lions committed 21 turnovers in the game, tied for their second-most this season. And the Broncos scored 19 points off those turnovers. Santa Clara outrebounded LMU, 33-32, the first time its outrebounded an opponent since Jan. 28 at San Francisco, a stretch of seven games.
LMU scored the first basket of the game and hit a 3-pointer 40 seconds later to hold two-point leads, but those were the last and only leads it'd hold. Santa Clara went on a 20-3 run to close the first quarter and lead by 15 already.
Q1, 31.1 | #Broncos 23, @lmulionswb 8
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) February 24, 2023
Pollerd hits Santa Clara's 2nd consecutive 3️⃣-ball, and the Broncos are ��HOT�� here in the 1st quarter‼️#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/9eMYCystab
After relatively even second and third quarters, the Broncos poured it on the Lions again in the fourth. They went on a 17-6 run to end the game and grew their lead to as large as 30 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining. Ashlee Maldonado started the fourth quarter off with a bang, putting the Broncos up by 23 with a 3-pointer 10 seconds into the period.
Q4, 9:50 | #Broncos 61, @lmulionswb 38
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) February 24, 2023
Ashlee Maldonado hits the Lions with a 3️⃣-ball right out of the gate in the 4th!#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/IsRlYqngLy
Santa Clara wraps up its regular season Saturday at Pepperdine. Fans can find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
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