"We struggled to get production from our inside posts and our guards needed to play with a little more intensity defensively," said head coach Joan Bonvicini. "We were not able to control the tempo of the game in the second half."
The Broncos would control the tempo early, foreshadowing how the game would play out. SCU would go on an 7-4 run in the opening minutes of the game, but a Sylvia Shephard (Alta Loma, Calif.) sub in would ignite a Seattle U 7-0 run to give SU their first lead of the game.
After holding SCU without a point for nearly three minutes, Megan Fulps broke the ice with a three-pointer. Seattle U would continue to hold onto their lead behind five points from both Salena Dickerson (Federal Way, Wash.) and Shephard, but Santa Clara was able to keep it a close game by taking advantage of the Redhawks early turnovers.
With less than nine minutes to go in the first half, an Amani Butler (Corona, Calif.) fast break down the lane would give the Redhawks their largest lead of the game, 20-12. Alyssa Shoji would counter with a three-pointer to make it a five-point game preventing Seattle U from taking a double digit lead midway through the half. A pair of Fulps free throws would bring Santa Clara within three, 20-17, with six minutes to go.
The Broncos would continue on a 7-0 run to make it a one-point contest, 20-19, with 5:09 remaining. Santa Clara's offensive swing forced the Redhawk bench to call a timeout, which proved to work in their favor as Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) and Butler would combine for three Seattle U points.
Ricki Radanovich would then give Santa Clara their first lead since the 16:28 minute mark, as they took a 25-23 advantage with under five minutes to go. Butler who was amidst a six-point run would tie the game at 27-27 with 2:39 left on the clock. Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) and Brown would then put up back-to-back baskets to reestablish a SU lead, 31-27.
Shoji would tie the game again, 31-31, with a pair of free throws, but Brown would counter with her own pair of baskets from the charity stripe with four seconds left to send SU into the locker room holding a 33-31 lead.
The opening minutes of the second half started off with the Broncos setting up an aggressive early tempo. Shephard would help Seattle U find their second half rhythm, with a pair of steals and a layin, but Santa Clara would continue to battle the Redhawks for the lead. With 13:58 left, Lindsay Leo would make it a 39-38 game and Fulps would tie the game at 40-40 on SCU's ensuing offensive drive.
Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) would be sent to the line to retake SU's lead, but Fulps would counter with a three from the corner and Leo would add in a layup to give SCU a three-point advantage.
The Redhawk bench would then call a timeout to regroup and Kerfoot would come out and even the game at 45-45 with 11:27 left in the game.
As the game headed inside 10 minutes, Shephard would foul Fulps while attempting a three-pointer, sending her to the line. Fulps would go to the line and sink all three of her free throw baskets to take a 48-45 Santa Clara lead.
Telisha Anderson would continue to preserve the Broncos' lead behind her free throw baskets, but back-to-back Sowell and Dickerson jumpers would give SU a 51-50 advantage at 6:46.
Santa Clara would establish as high as a five-point lead in the final five minutes of action. Despite the Redhawks best defensive efforts, the Broncos would be able to hold onto their lead by being sent to the line on almost every offensive possession to close out the game.
At 3:16, Ward would take charge and make it a four-point game, converting her three-point play. Kerfoot would then drive the ball to the basket, but was fouled sending her to the charity stripe. The junior point guard would make it a one possession game, 60-58, with 2:31 left in the game.
Ward once again came in the clutch, making a clean steal to eventually set up a Kerfoot layin to tie the game 60-60 with under 1:30 to play.
With 32.2 seconds remaining, Santa Clara took possession of the ball and Shoji drew a foul. She would give SCU a 62-60 lead with 12.4 seconds left. Her points would be enough to give Santa Clara their second win of the season. Anderson would be fouled with one second left in the contest to add SCU's final point of the game from the charity stripe.
Butler would lead the Redhawk offensive efforts in the game, with a team-leading 15 points. She also added six boards and a steal in 27 minutes of work. Kerfoot also scored in double figures, with 11 points, and she had four assists.
Seattle U edged Santa Clara in rebounding, 36-35. Both sides shot fairly evenly from the field, with SCU shooting 36.4 percent (16-for-44), while SU shot 35.6 percent (21-for-59). SCU had three players score in double digits, led by Fulps' game-leading 21 points.
Seattle U will close out their California road swing at Saint Mary's on Tuesday, Dec. 21. First tip is slated for 6 p.m. in Moraga.