Santa Clara women’s basketball lost to Vermont 63-51 on Saturday in Honolulu. The Broncos, now with a record of 6-3, struggled offensively throughout the game, particularly from long range and at the free throw line.
The game started evenly, but Vermont pulled ahead with a 7-0 run in the first quarter. Santa Clara managed to tie the score late in the second quarter before Vermont responded and took a 26-23 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, Keira Hanson scored nine consecutive points for Vermont, putting her team up by seven. Santa Clara answered with a 6-0 run and briefly took the lead after a three-pointer from Kylee Fox. However, Vermont closed out the quarter strong and led 44-40 going into the fourth.
Santa Clara tied the game early in the final period but was unable to maintain momentum as Vermont went on a decisive 13-4 run. Maia Jones hit a three-pointer late to bring Santa Clara within six points, but those were their last points of the contest. Vermont secured victory by converting free throws down the stretch.
Afterwards, it was noted that “Santa Clara shot just 28.8-percent (19-of-66) from the field and 2-of-25 from beyond the arc. The Broncos also struggled from the free throw line, going 8-of-15.” Jones led Santa Clara with 15 points while Ashley Hawkins added 12 despite shooting difficulties. Fox collected eight rebounds for her team.
Vermont shot nearly 45 percent from the floor but also had trouble from three-point range. Hanson led all scorers with 19 points on efficient shooting; Nikola Priede contributed a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite winning both overall and offensive rebounding battles—collecting an advantage of 45-36 overall and grabbing more offensive boards—Santa Clara could not capitalize fully on these opportunities, turning them into only an eleven-to-seven edge in second chance points. Turnovers also proved costly as Vermont converted thirteen Bronco turnovers into twenty-one points.
Santa Clara will face host Hawaii next at home tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. Pacific time.
