SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Saturday's cold finish by the Santa Clara University women's basketball team was made into a distant memory Monday with a white-hot start.
The Broncos made their first 12 shots of the game Monday, running out to a 14-point lead and never looking back in a 61-46 West Coast Conference victory over LMU at Leavey Center.
It's time for more head @coachbillcarr postgame thoughts following the Broncos' @WCChoops win over LMU! ��️#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/T3jRxht9gF
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) December 20, 2022
Santa Clara (10-5, 1-1 WCC) had shot 50% through Saturday's first three quarters against Pepperdine, but it finished the game going 2 for 14 (14.3%) in the fourth quarter, eventually losing by one point.
Monday, they started the first quarter going 12 for 12, including two 3-pointers, and led 29-15 after 10 minutes. Santa Clara shot 92.3% in the first quarter, 53.8% in the first half, and 48.0% in the game. Six different players contributed to the Broncos' hot start with made baskets. Ashley Hiraki led the way with eight points on two 3-pointers and the first basket of the run to start the game.
Hiraki finished with 14 points to go with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Tess Heal led the way with a game-high 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. Lara Edmanson poured in 14 points and had four rebounds.
Q1, 2:14 | #Broncos 24, @lmulionswb 10
— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) December 19, 2022
From Melbourne to Melbourne!
Tess Heal & Olivia Pollerd run the pick-and-roll, and Santa Clara is 1️⃣0️⃣-1️⃣0️⃣ from the floor to start the game!#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/M2blhrG8Xu
LMU (3-9, 0-1) was held to just 28.8% shooting in the game and only scored eight and six points in the second and fourth quarters, respectively. Alexis Mark posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Amaya Oliver had 12 points, two rebounds and an assist, and Ariel Johnson added 10 points with six boards and an assist.
The Lions made one push in the third quarter to get within five of Santa Clara. They went on a 9-0 run to whittle a 14-point deficit down to five at 39-34. Santa Clara went 0 for 4 with four turnovers during the four-minute stretch. Edmanson finally put an end to it all with a layup, starting an 8-1 run that put the Broncos back up by 12 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Broncos now break for the holiday before resuming WCC play at home on Dec. 31 versus rival San Francisco. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
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