Dec. 13, 2009
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - After playing catch-up in the first half to take a six-point lead in the second, the Pacific women's basketball team dropped a 74-69 decision against Santa Clara on Sunday, Dec. 13.
With the loss, the Tigers fell to 1-7 on the year while Santa Clara improved to 2-7 overall.
Despite an early 10-0 taken by the Broncos just over two minutes into the contest, the Tigers recovered and put a quick three on the board at 17:07 from senior Jasmine Dana (Bakersfield, Calif.). Santa Clara increased its lead back into double-digits and extended it to as much as 12 at 15:33 off a jumper from Maggie Goldenberger, 15-3. Three missed shots and two turnovers for the Broncos gave the Tigers a chance to come back into the game over the course of the next two minutes, and by 13:29, Pacific cut the lead in half, trailing 15-8 after a jumper in the key from sophomore Christina Thompson (Sacramento, Calif.).
From 12:23 until 5:57 remained to play in the first half, Pacific stormed out to a 14-6 run that included contributions from Thompson, sophomore Eliza Dy (Chino Hills, Calif.) and freshmen Erica McKenzie (Sparks, Nev.) and Kendall Rodriguez (La Habra, Calif.). After limiting the Broncos to two jumpers and a pair of free throws, Pacific trailed only by one point, 26-25.
The swing on the scoreboard came at 4:55 when Goldenberger fouled Rodriguez, giving the freshman a pair of successful free throws that helped Pacific take the lead, 27-26. But then it was a race to the half, as both teams swapped points in the following three minutes, until Santa Clara clung to a 31-29 lead at 3:10. Closing out the second half, Pacific went on a 5-0 run as the Tigers led 34-31 at the end of the first half after a lay-up from senior Emma Head (San Diego, Calif.) and a three from Rodriguez.
Into the second half, Pacific continued on to lead by as much as six points, 39-33, at 17:06 and held on to the lead in the game until 13:20, when another jumper from Goldenberger gave the Broncos a 45-44 lead. From there, Santa Clara never looked back. In the middle of the half, Santa Clara went on a 6-3 run to push its lead to 64-58 at 6:06.
Trailing by five with only two minutes left to play, Pacific was the benefactor of a call that had the potential to change the game when Kathy Willinsky chipped in a lay-up that was taken away after an offensive charge of junior Claire McLeod (Melbourne, Australia). But Pacific could not capitalize on the opportunity as Santa Clara protected its final five-point lead.
Junior Jennifer Fath (Carrollton, Texas), made things interesting down the stretch for Pacific by making three lay-ups in the game's final 1:23.
Megan Fulps finished as the leading scorer in the game with 24 of the Broncos' final points. Two players also tallied double-doubles for Santa Clara, Goldenberger and Lena Gipson.
Pacific was paced by Rodriguez's 15 points, Dana's 12 points, four assists and a double-double from Head with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Pacific next returns to action when they hit the road on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Fresno State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
