SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara University women's water polo team will host Harvard University Sunday at 12 noon in a non-conference game at the Sullivan Aquatics Center on the Mission Campus.

Santa Clara (8-11; 5-3 WWPA) is aiming to be one of the Western Water Polo Association's top-four seeds at league championships in late April. In their last seven games, the Broncos are 4-3 and following Saturday's 5-1 win over No. 19 Pacific, the team had won 8 of 13. SCU is receiving votes in the latest Collegiate Water Polo Association Top 20.

"I think we have improved quite a bit on defense, understanding what we need to do on the defensive end," said Santa Clara head coach Keith Wilbur about the progress his team has made at the season's halfway point.

Bronco senior goalkeeper Wren White had 12 blocks and a steal to help the SCU defense hold Pacific scoreless until midway through the third quarter during an impressive victory Saturday at the Aggie Shootout. White had eight blocks, playing in all 32 minutes against Cal State East Bay later that day and had five more in split time Sunday against No. 15 UC Davis.

"The biggest thing from last weekend that we can still improve on is our six-on-five power play. Our percentage needs to be better after we draw kick outs," says Wilbur. "I do like where we are headed. We have some big games coming up that could determine whether we are a four-seed or a six-seed (at the WWPA's)."

Santa Clara's game against a quality East Coast opponent in Harvard (8-4, 1-0 CWPA) will be a good chance to gauge just where the team is at, following a busy month of competition, which included playing in four weekend tournaments.

Up next on the schedule is a conference game at Sonoma State, Thursday, March 24 and a trip to Los Angeles the weekend of April 2 to play WWPA favorite and sixth-ranked LMU.

Santa Clara vs. Harvard
Date: Sunday, March 13, 2011
Host: Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Records: Santa Clara (8-11, 5-3 WWPA), Harvard (8-4, 1-0 CWPA)
Details/Site: Sullivan Aquatics Center on the Santa Clara Campus, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara 95053.
Tickets: (walk-up only) $8 adults, $5 youth/seniors, free admission for SCU students and faculty
Media Relations/SID Contacts: John Nash (jbnash@scu.edu) and Nick Mirkovich (nmirkovich@scu.edu)