Box Score STOCKTON, Calif. – Despite a late push by the Tigers, the Pacific women's basketball team could not complete their comeback on Saturday afternoon at the Alex G. Spanos Center, falling to Santa Clara, 77-73.
Facing the Broncos for the first time since their first-round matchup in the WCC Tournament last season, the Tigers could not find the same rhythm offensively that they previously had on Thursday in their win over San Francisco.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Keeping pace with the Broncos out of the gates, senior Valerie Higgins scored on a layup at the 6:03 mark in the first quarter as the Tigers trailed Santa Clara, 7-4.
- Despite consistent shooting to begin the game from SCU, Pacific remained on the heels of the Broncos on a three from freshman Liz Smith at 1:26, cutting the deficit to 17-11.
- Trading baskets to close out the quarter, Santa Clara led Pacific at the end of one, 21-13.
- Maintaining a double-digit advantage for most of the period, the Tigers cut the Bronco lead to single digits on redshirt freshman Rosie Schweizer's first triple of the afternoon at 5:24 in the second, as SCU led 31-24.
- Battling throughout the rest of the quarter, which included a spark and 11 points off the bench from sophomore Cassidy Johnson, Pacific only trailed by six heading into the locker room, 41-35.
- Unable to find much momentum out of the halftime break, the Tigers remained in striking distance on back-to-back baskets from Schweizer around the 2-minute mark, but the Broncos stayed on top, 61-50, through three quarters.
- Aiming to defend their home, senior Lianna Tillman knocked down back-to-back threes for Pacific at 3:53 and 3:10 in the fourth quarter, cutting the Tiger deficit to just four points, 70-66.
- Matching each other down the stretch, UOP trailed by four still with only 25 seconds remaining in regulation, but would not be able to find the bottom of the net when needed in the final moments of the contest. Following one last basket from redshirt junior Savannah Whitehead, Pacific ultimately fell to Santa Clara, 77-74.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
- Flirting with a triple double in yet another dominant performance, Higgins was named the Hardworking Player of the Game after finishing with team highs in points (17), rebounds (9) and steals (6).
- For the fourth time in seven games this season, four Tigers scored in double figures: Higgins (17), Schweizer (12), senior Brooklyn McDavid (12) and Johnson (11).
- As a team, Pacific led Santa Clara in three statistical categories despite the loss: points in the point (30-26), bench points (29-15) and points off turnovers (26-16).
NEXT UP:
Pacific's next contest at San Diego has officially been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 result within the USD program. Moving forward, the Tigers will return to action next Saturday when they travel to Provo to face BYU on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2:00 pm. Live stream and live stat links will be available via pacifictigers.com.
FOLLOW US:
For more updates and more information on the 2020-21 Pacific women's basketball team, be sure to follow @Pacific_Hoops on Twitter, @pacificwbb on Instagram and @PacificWomensBasketball on Facebook.
