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University of the Pacific

Women's Basketball

Women's Hoops Rallies Back For Win At Santa Clara, 61-59

Box Score

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Pacific held Santa Clara to just three field goals in the second half to rally for a 61-59 win on the road Monday night at the Leavey Center. The Tigers erased a 16-point deficit and held the Broncos to 18 second-half points.

Madison Parrish scored 16 points with four assists, while Kendall Kenyon tallied 15 points and eight rebounds with four blocks. Unique Coleman chipped in 13 points and four steals, while Hailie Eackles added three steals and three points.

Pacific held Santa Clara to 3-of-31 from the field in the second half, including 17-straight misses to open the half as the Tigers reeled off a 14-2 run to take the lead. Santa Clara regrouped, and led by six, 59-53 with 5:18 to play, but the Tigers pitched the shutout the rest of the way, closing with an 8-0 run.

The Tigers improve to 2-0 in the West Coast Conference and 10-3 overall. Santa Clara falls to 5-6 overall, and 0-2 in conference.

Parrish drove to the rim and finished while being fouled and Kenyon added a pair of free throws, but the Broncos hit six of their first eight shots to build a 13-8 lead.  After a three-pointer by Erin Butler cut the gap to 13-11, Santa Clara reeled off a 16-2 run as they hit tive-striaght field goals for a 29-13 lead.

Kenyon and Coleman posted lay-ups and the Tigers drove to draw contact, hitting six free throws to whittle the Broncos' lead down to eight at 33-25 with 4:37 to go in the half.

But then the Broncos piled up free throws, stretching the lead back to 13 before a three-pointer from Parrish. as Pacific trailed 41-30 at halftime.

Santa Clara shot 59 percent (16-of-27) in the first half, while Pacific shot a mere 22 percent (8-of-36). The Tigers forced 15 turnovers however, and hit 12-of-15 from the free throw line to remain in the ballgame.

The Broncos owned the glass in the first half with a 27-14 lead in rebounding.

In the second half, Pacific held Santa Clara without a field goal for over eight minutes, reeling off a 14-2 run to take a 44-43 lead. Kristina Johnson and Erin Butler posted lay-ups and Desire Finnie's pull-up jumper cut the lead to five. After a steal, Kenyon tallied a lay-up and Coleman drove to the rim to give Pacific the lead for the first time with 13:38 to play.

The Tigers fell behind 50-46 after a three-point play by Marie Bertholdt, but Kenyon scored with a floater and Eackles drained a three-pointer for the lead. Nici Gilday hit a three-pointer for Santa Clara for a 55-53 advantage with 6:24 to go. Pacific was whistled for a pair of charges, and Santa Clara hit four free throws to lead by six before the Tigers final surge.

Coleman drove for a basket, and after a turnover, Parrish finished at the rim to pull within two at 59-57 with 3:20 remaining. Coleman came away with a steal, and the Tigers ran an offensive set for Parrish, who drained a three-pointer from the wing for a 60-59 lead with 49.1 seconds left.

After Kenyon posted a block on defense, Parrish hit a free throw, and the Tigers' defense, fittingly, smothered the Broncos final attempt.

The Tigers shot 45 percent in the second half (13-of-29) and out-scored Santa Clara in the paint 18-4 in the final frame.

It was the second time this season Pacific rallied back from down double-digits at halftime, as the Tigers recovered from down 12 at the break against Utah State.

Pacific forced 28 turnovers and turn them into 26 points.

The Tigers return home to face Loyola Marymount on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Alex G. Spanos Center.




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Players Mentioned

Erin Butler

#12 Erin Butler

F
5' 11"
Junior
Unique Coleman

#20 Unique Coleman

G
5' 10"
Sophomore
Hailie Eackles

#23 Hailie Eackles

G
5' 9"
Junior
Desire Finnie

#22 Desire Finnie

G/F
5' 11"
Freshman
Kristina Johnson

#3 Kristina Johnson

G
5' 5"
Senior
Kendall Kenyon

#10 Kendall Kenyon

F
6' 2"
Senior
Madison Parrish

#11 Madison Parrish

G
5' 8"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Erin Butler

#12 Erin Butler

5' 11"
Junior
F
Unique Coleman

#20 Unique Coleman

5' 10"
Sophomore
G
Hailie Eackles

#23 Hailie Eackles

5' 9"
Junior
G
Desire Finnie

#22 Desire Finnie

5' 11"
Freshman
G/F
Kristina Johnson

#3 Kristina Johnson

5' 5"
Senior
G
Kendall Kenyon

#10 Kendall Kenyon

6' 2"
Senior
F
Madison Parrish

#11 Madison Parrish

5' 8"
Senior
G