SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women's basketball held off a late run to top Pepperdine 54-50 Saturday afternoon at home for its second consecutive win.
Kyla Martin got a rare chance at redemption late in the fourth quarter after she missed a pair of free throws with 18 seconds to go. With the Broncos (7-14, 3-7 WCC) up just two, Martin was fouled again with six seconds on the clock and this time converted both chances to make it a two-possession game at 54-50 and sealed the victory.
The free throw line, however, favored the Waves (7-13, 3-7 WCC) in the game. They were 16-for-20 from the charity strike while the Broncos only had five made free throws but took advantage of their size for a 22-10 advantage in points in the paint to even things out.
Santa Clara also used a balanced attack on the offensive end, getting at least four points from seven of the eight players to see minutes.
Martin finished the day with nine points and Ashlyn Herlihy led the team with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. Dru Toleafoa also knocked down three 3-pointers for nine and Charise Holloway added eight. Morgan McGwire scored seven with a team-high eight boards.
"There's never been an issue with the ball being moved with this group," Santa Clara head coach Bill Carr said. "There's not a selfish bone in this program. That proves it right there."
After creeping back into the game by allowing just eight points in the third quarter, Pepperdine scored six in a row over a minute and a half midway through the fourth to draw even at 41-all with 5:40 on the clock. Yasmine Robinson-Bacote led the way with a pair of free throws and a jumper.
"Credit to Pepperdine for coming out of halftime and playing harder than us," Carr said.
Robinson-Bacote led all scorers with 18 points and nine rebounds while Tylinn Carter and Kim Jacobs added eight apiece.
A 3-pointer by Dru Toleafoa at the end of the first quarter started a 12-0 run for the Broncos that lasted until the 5:28 mark in the second and put them up 25-10. Pepperdine missed eight shots and turned the ball over five times during the run.
Later in the period, Robinson-Bacote and Jacobs knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to get the deficit to single-digits at 27-18.
NOTES
- Santa Clara is now 40-36 all-time against Pepperdine.
- Taylor Berry made her 95th consecutive start.
- Santa Clara had 15 assists on 21 made baskets.
- The seven 3-pointers made by Santa Clara ties their season-high against a DI opponent. The Broncos also did it against San Francisco on Jan. 18.
- Santa Clara's 10 turnovers were the second lowest total this year but the Broncos forced just 10, their lowest total of the season.
- Pepperdine assisted on each of its first nine baskets.
- The Waves didn't score until the 4:56 mark in the first and didn't get their first points in the second until 3:49.
HIGHLIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS | The #SCUBroncos used a strong offensive effort down the stretch to hold down home court in a @WCCSports victory over Pepperdine! FULL HIGHLIGHTS ▶️ https://t.co/u4H76LLLbS #StampedeTogether #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/e5H4GyFnGh
— Santa Clara WBB (@Santaclarawbb) January 28, 2018
INTERVIEW
VIDEO | Senior guard Kyla Martin talks about her redemption at the free throw line and the #SCUBroncos defense in their 54-50 win over @WavesHoops Saturday afternoon in Leavey Center. #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/Ol0pGrQdWa
— Santa Clara WBB (@Santaclarawbb) January 28, 2018
QUOTABLE
"I'm proud of the team. Ashlyn made a huge shot late and Kyla made two free throws late after missing two. That's gutsy and we'll just try to get better."
Head coach Bill Carr
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