Men's basketball loses to No. 10 Gonzaga Bulldogs 79-63
By Blake Twisselman
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Santa Clara 75, Portland 64
The Broncos improved their record to 12-9 overall and 4-2 in West Coast Conference play with a victory against the Pilots last Thursday at the Leavey Center. Santa Clara controlled the game from start to finish, led by junior guard Doron Perkins, who had 18 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Sophomore forward Travis Niesen and junior guard Kyle Bailey had 11 points apiece and junior forward Ethan Rohde poured in 10 points to spark the Bronco offense. Senior center Jim Howell registered seven rebounds and three blocked shots in an excellent defensive effort. The Broncos jumped out to an early halftime lead and were never seriously challenged in the second half.
Gonzaga 79, Santa Clara 63
A sellout crowd of 4,500 packed the Leavey Center last Saturday to see the Broncos host the No. 10 Gonzaga Bulldogs. Santa Clara played an exceptional first half, and took a two-point lead into the intermission. The two teams exchanged blows early in the second half before the Bulldogs mounted an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach. Niesen and Perkins each dropped in 11 points to lead the Broncos. Rohde scored all nine of his points in the first half on three 3-pointers and Howell pulled down eight rebounds to aid the Bronco effort. Santa Clara, whose record dropped to 12-10 overall and 4-3 in WCC play, will play back-to-back games this week against San Diego. The Broncos will host the Toreros Thursday at the Leavey Center followed by another game on Saturday in San Diego at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Gonzaga 77, Santa Clara 69
Junior guard Quinn Thomas and senior guard Jennie Rondel each netted 18 points, but the Broncos (6-13 overall, 2-4 WCC) dropped the conference game last Thursday at the Martin Center in Spokane, Wash. Santa Clara went on a 14-0 run to take the lead in the first half, but the Bulldogs answered with a run of their own to close the Broncos' lead to only four at the break. Gonzaga outscored Santa Clara 43-31 in the second half by hitting 19 of 23 free throws to earn the come-from-behind victory. Redshirt freshman Tori Markey had 12 points and six rebounds and freshman forward Jenni Gottschalk had six points and six rebounds for the Broncos.
Portland 69, Santa Clara 61
Thomas had another excellent evening for Santa Clara, dropping in 17 points and picking up a couple of steals in the conference match. Freshman guard Ashley Graham sparked the Bronco offense with nine points and 12 assists. Freshman forward Ashley Gonnerman had 13 points and Gottschalk poured in a dozen, but the Pilots were able to withstand a second half Bronco charge and preserve the victory. Santa Clara (6-14 overall, 2-5 WCC) will go to San Diego Thursday for a contest with the Toreros.
BASEBALL
Santa Clara 6, UC Riverside 2
The Broncos started off the 2004 season on a positive note, downing the Highlanders last Friday in Riverside. Starter Chad Fillinger threw five innings, surrendering only two runs on two hits. Fillinger also struck out five batters. Reliever Anthony Rea picked up the win in relief after pitching two innings of hitless baseball. Kellan McConnell worked the final two innings to earn the save. The Bronco bats were led by first baseman Will Thompson, who went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and two runs batted in, including Santa Clara's first home run of the season. Center fielder Robert Perry also had two RBIs for the Broncos (1-0 overall).
UC Riverside 13, Santa Clara 8
The Highlanders scored six runs in the fifth inning to open up the game and take game two of the three-game weekend series in Riverside. Third baseman Dustin Realini went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, two runs scored and cranked an opposite-field home run in the second inning. Infielder Eric Newton had a two-run home run in the sixth inning and Will Thompson also had two RBIs for the Broncos (1-1 overall). Andrew Slorp allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings and took the loss for Santa Clara.
Santa Clara 12, UC Riverside 6
The Broncos took the rubber game of the three-game series with an impressive victory in Riverside, jumping out to an 8-0 lead after the first two innings, led by left fielder Nic Crosta's three-run opposite-field home run in the first inning. Right fielder Nathan Faulkner, Will Thompson and Crosta all had triples in the second inning as the Broncos continued the offensive barrage. Thompson went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBIs, while Crosta drove in five on three hits. Hurler Jared Hughes made his collegiate debut and allowed only two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. Reliever Scott Lonergan picked up the win for Santa Clara (2-1 overall).
SOFTBALL
Oregon St. 6, Santa Clara 0
Senior Jaime Forman-Lau pitched three innings and took the loss as the Broncos kicked off action in the third-annual Early Bird Tournament in Santa Barbara. Junior Kelley Johnson had the only hit for Santa Clara and Oregon State scored their six runs on eight hits and an error by Santa Clara. The Broncos fell to 0-1 overall with the loss.
Santa Clara 3, UC Santa Barbara 2
Forman-Lau went the distance for the Broncos (1-1 overall), surrendering only six hits while striking out five batters last Friday against the host school in the Early Bird Tournament. Senior Rachel Sherman had two RBIs, sophomore Jessica Clee scored two runs and freshman Angela Kabanuck had two hits including the game-winning RBI to lead the Broncos to the victory.
Long Beach St. 4, Santa Clara 1
Forman-Lau and sophomore Liz Courter combined to pitch Saturday's game as the Early Bird Tournament began its second day of action. Clee scored the Broncos' only run with a solo homer in the second inning. The Broncos fell to 1-2 overall with the loss.
Santa Clara 7, Illinois-Chicago 1
Santa Clara evened its record at 2-2 overall with a convincing victory against Illinois-Chicago in Santa Barbara. Kabanuck led the Bronco bats, going 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Clee cranked a three-run home run to put the Broncos up early in the first inning and Forman-Lau and Courter combined pitching efforts to seal the victory.
UC Santa Barbara 1, Santa Clara 0
The Broncos lost a close game to the Gauchos on Sunday to wrap up play in the Early Bird Tournament in Santa Barbara. Forman-Lau pitched a complete game, allowing only four hits while striking out five batters. Second baseman Jenny Brown batted 3-for-4 on the day and sophomore Kate Goethals went 2-for-3. Santa Clara (2-3 overall) plays in the Long Beach State Tournament this weekend against Long Beach State University.
MEN'S TENNIS
New Mexico 6, Santa Clara 1
Junior Taylor Bedilion defeated his opponent by a score of 6-4, 7-6 (3) at the number four singles position to register the only point for Santa Clara (2-3 overall). The doubles team of Gernot Fischer and Eric Kochanski won their number one doubles match by a score of 8-4. However, the Broncos lost the other two doubles matches and New Mexico claimed the doubles point. Excepting Bedilion's victory, New Mexico won the rest of the singles matches in straight sets to win the team match. Santa Clara will travel to San Francisco this Wednesday in the first conference match of the season.
WOMEN'S WATER POLO
Santa Clara 14, CS Hayward 3
Junior Catherine Flynn and freshman Katie Radvanyi each scored three goals to lift the Broncos (2-0 overall) to the easy victory against the Pioneers last Saturday in Santa Cruz. Junior Amanda Ginn and sophomore Bryn Asher both netted two goals and four Bronco women each registered one goal in the victory. Freshman Kristin Barnes had six blocks and a steal in goal for Santa Clara.
Santa Clara 13, UC Santa Cruz 5
Flynn had four goals and three assists against the host Banana Slugs on Saturday in Santa Cruz. Four Broncos had two goals and sophomore Alanna Simpkins added another. Senior Anne Ginotti had 11 saves and four steals in goal for Santa Clara. The Broncos (3-0 overall) will return to action this weekend in Palo Alto to compete in the Stanford Invitational against California, Hawaii and UCLA.