Women's basketball catches fire

By Brian Betz

Halfway into conference play, the Santa Clara women's basketball team is tied for first place in the West Coast Conference and is looking to keep things that way.

"We have to be consistent and continue to work and improve every day," Head Coach Michelle Bento said regarding their chances at a WCC title. "We are constantly working to perfect our defense to be on point every game, to try and take our opponent out of what they want to do offensively."

A strong defensive prowess has been instrumental in the Broncos' 15-5 record. Since Bento took over as coach last summer, the team has taken on a new philosophy.

"My previous four years here we have forced our opponents to the middle, but now we are forcing baseline," said fifth-year senior Tammy Annas. "This system relies heavily on our help-side defense. I think it's great because when we stop other teams, it definitely puts a spark into our offense and we become unstoppable in that area."

Offensive production has been anything but a problem this year for the Broncos. Bento's bunch leads the conference in scoring (73.7 points per game), field goal percentage (.484) and scoring margin (+14.0). Two contributors to these league-leading statistics have been sophomore guards Quinn Thomas and Kayla Huss. After losing the team's top two scorers and assist leaders in Caroline Gruening and Becki Ashbaugh to graduation, skepticism arose as to whether or not they could be replaced. But having received limited playing time last season, the two are now averaging just over 10 points a game.

"I think everyone was a little worried when we lost Becki and Caroline last year," said senior forward Julie Butler. "But Kayla and Quinn have really picked it up and done a great job this year. I think they are both playing with a lot of confidence, which has been very important for our team."

Added Annas, "Kayla's decision making has matured along with her defense, and Quinn has just stepped up her whole game."

With only one freshman on the entire 13-woman roster, this team is an experienced group that feels a higher degree of camaraderie than it did last season.

"I honestly think our team is much closer this year on and off the court," said Butler. "We have had to rely on each other throughout all the new changes this year has brought, and we are stronger as a team because of it."

Said Annas in agreement, "There is less bickering to each other during practice. Last year we tended to talk back to one another a lot, which we're definitely not doing as much this year."

The team solidarity will help, should they go further than last year's first-round loss in the NCAA tourney. But although the pieces are there, Bento keeps things in perspective.

"Our goal is to compete for the conference title," said Bento. "Our focus isn't on the NCAA Tournament. We look at every game as being the biggest of the year, without looking too far down the road."

As the Broncos enter the second half of conference action, their 6-1 record in the WCC is matched only by Pepperdine, who beat Santa Clara by 16 points last month Redemption comes Feb. 15, but despite the fact that Gonzaga is the only other team above .500 at 4-3, the Waves should not be singled out as Santa Clara's only competition.

"It's not a two horse race," said Bento. "I feel anybody can beat anybody on any given night, which shows the parity and the strength within our conference."

Added Annas, "We can't play to the level of our competitors, but instead play Santa Clara basketball at all times: up-tempo, disciplined and defensively sound."

However, should they aspire to make it to the "big dance," in all likelihood they will have to win the WCC Championship. Without a strong non-conference schedule, it is difficult for many mid-major teams to get at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament. And with four non-conference losses on the season, the WCC Tournament becomes all that more important for the Broncos.

"At this point for our team to gain an NCAA Tourney birth we will have to win the WCC Tourney title because of 3-4 bad losses we have had this season," said Annas. "We are not counting on an at-large bid."

But with the way this team has played during their current five-game winning streak, nobody can deny that Santa Clara is a frontrunner to win the conference. From there, memories of last season's first-round loss to Louisiana State will be motivation for the 12 returning players on this year's roster to go further.

"I think we have a great shot at making the NCAA Tournament," said Butler. "And one of our biggest goals is making it past the first round."