Santa Clara women’s basketball lost 88-60 to Gonzaga in the semifinals of the Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Basketball Championship on March 9. The Broncos, who now hold a record of 24-9, struggled with shooting throughout the game, while the Bulldogs improved to 23-9 and advanced to the next round.
The loss is significant for Santa Clara as it ends their run in the conference tournament and leaves them waiting to learn about their postseason opportunities. Despite a strong start that included a 7-0 run, Santa Clara’s cold shooting allowed Gonzaga to take control with a decisive second quarter.
In the first quarter, Santa Clara missed 13 consecutive shots but managed to stay close, trailing only by two points at the end of the period. However, Gonzaga responded with a 14-0 run early in the second quarter and built a lead they would not relinquish. By halftime, Santa Clara was shooting just 20 percent from the field compared to Gonzaga’s nearly 56 percent.
Ashley Hawkins led Santa Clara with 17 points and reached a season total of 207 assists, which is now second-most in program history for a single season. Ava Schmidt contributed 14 points and six rebounds, while Maia Jones added 13 points. Delainey Miller scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds. On Gonzaga’s side, Allie Turner led with 17 points including four three-pointers, Lauren Whitaker had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Zeryhia Aokuso also scored 16 with nine boards.
Despite forcing more turnovers than they committed (20 forced versus nine committed), Santa Clara could not overcome their shooting woes or Gonzaga’s efficiency from both inside and beyond the arc. The Broncos will now wait to see if they receive an invitation to continue postseason play.
