Jan. 6, 2004
SAN DIEGO - Santa Clara's Quinn Thomas hit a three-pointer with 17 seconds left to help the Broncos rally past San Diego State, 70-68, in non-conference women's basketball action at Cox Arena. With the loss, the Aztecs dropped to 4-8 overall, while the Broncos improved to 4-9 in 2003-04.
"To (Santa Clara's) credit, they knocked down a bunch of shots and they weren't all easy," SDSU head coach Jim Tomey said. "I think we had some breakdowns in our conversion defense and didn't get to some shooters quick enough. They pushed the ball hard, but we still had the ball on our right hand at the end with free throws and we just weren't able to convert."
After Thomas' three-pointer, the Aztecs had an opportunity to equalize as freshman Michelle Elliott (Pasco, Wash.) went to the free-throw line with six seconds remaining and trailing by two points at 69-67. Elliott made the first half of the one-and-one, but could not convert the second coming out of a Bronco timeout. Santa Clara's Jenni Gottschalk then made one of two free throws to up the lead to 70-68, as Aztec Veronica Shaw's runner at the buzzer rimmed out.
SDSU controlled the ball most of the game, owning a commanding 18-point lead twice in the second-half at 45-27 and 50-32 with the latter coming with 15:16 remaining. Quinn's three-pointer with 7:53 remaining, however, capped a subsequent 23-6 Santa Clara run to get the Broncos back in the game.
Neither squad would garner greater than a two-point advantage the rest of the way as the teams switched leads eight times over the final eight minutes.
The Aztecs, who shot 52 percent from the field and 60 percent from beyond the arc, were led by sophomore Ashlee Dunlap (Los Angeles, Calif.), who tallied her ninth double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Elliott finished the night with 17 points, while guard Michelle Strawberry (Corona, Calif.) tallied a career best 14.
Santa Clara also had three players score in double figures, with forward Jennie Rondal notching a team-best 16 points.
San Diego State rounds out its non-conference schedule Friday at Cox Arena with a 7 p.m. meeting with first time opponent Texas-Pan American.