SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women's basketball rode a huge second quarter and contributions from all around to a 73-60 win over Nevada Sunday at home.

The Broncos (2-0) had four players in double-figures, led by 18 from Merle Wiehl who was 7-for-10 from the floor and 3-for-4 from downtown. Joining her was Lindsey VanAllen who scored 15 and Ashley Hiraki and Lana Hollingsworth who both scored 12. Hiraki dished out six assists as well with VanAllen grabbing a team-high-tying four rebounds.

The second quarter was the difference on the day as Santa Clara outscored the Wolfpack (2-0) 30-12 to stretch their lead out to 22 at the halftime break. Wiehl had 13 of her 18 first half points during the quarter with VanAllen adding six of her own.

The hot stretch actually began at the end of the first quarter when Hiraki scored the final four points before seven more to start the second for Santa Clara. A 7-0 run later in the period got the lead to 19 and the final five of the half, capped by VanAllen's 3-pointer at the buzzer, made it 45-23

Santa Clara also took care of the ball and made Nevada's turnovers hurt. The Broncos turned it over just nine times while forcing 17. It allowed them to have a 25-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

Things started to get a little interesting in the fourth when pair of layups from Natalie Lathrop sandwiched around a 3-pointer from Audrey Roden gave Nevada the first seven points of the quarter a 9-0 run overall to cut their deficit down to 63-48. It was the closest the Wolfpack had been since 4:39 in the second quarter when they trailed 33-19. It wouldn't be enough as the Broncos responded and held off the late charge.

Roden scored a team-best 17 while connecting three times from beyond the arc. No other Nevada player was in double-figures. Eliska Stebetakova scored nine and Kenna Holt scored eight with a team-high six rebounds and five assists.

NOTES

• Santa Clara is now 14-12 all-time against Nevada.
• The Broncos collected 17 assists on 28 made field goals.
• This is the team first 2-0 start to the season 2018-19 when they began 3-0. That season their second win of the year also came against Nevada at home.

INTERVIEW

��️ Bill Carr was happy with the team's balance in a win over Nevada on Sunday.#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/bZp5HD5w98

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) November 15, 2021

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The Broncos play their first road game of the year at San Jose State Wednesday at 6 p.m.

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