March 6, 2005

Santa Clara - 77
Gonzaga - 66

Santa Clara, Calif. - Santa Clara (17-13) upset No. 23 Gonzaga, (27-3) in the championship game of the WCC Tournament, 77-66. The Broncos won their third tournament title with each occurring on their home floor. Santa Clara will receive the WCC's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The loss snapped Gonzaga's 23-game winning streak.

Michelle Cozad led Santa Clara in scoring with 22 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the 3-point arc. Ashley Graham had 17 first half points and Quinn Thomas added 14. Gonzaga's Ashley Burke collected 28 points in the loss.

Santa Clara last won the WCC Tournament in 1998 and won its only other title in 1992.

The Broncos hit 30 3-pointers during the WCC Tournament for a new mark for treys made during a tournament. Santa Clara broke its own record of 27 3-pointers made during the 2002 tournament. Santa Clara's 30 3-pointers made is a new WCC Tournament record for both men and women. The previous men's mark was 18 3-pointers made by Gonzaga in 1999.

The Broncos made 14 3-pointers against Gonzaga on 14-of-26 shooting.

Gonzaga cut Santa Clara's second half advantage to 73-65 with under a minute remaining, but couldn't move any closer.

The Broncos' Cozad was named tournament MVP, while teammates Graham and Kayla Huss were as well. Cozad was also an all-tournament selection. Gonzaga's Burke was named to the all-tournament team. Peppperdine's Jennifer Lacy was also an all-tournament selection.

Santa Clara extended its halftime margin to 20 points at 59-39 on a 3-pointer by Thomas who hit three in the first 10 minutes of action. A lay-in by Tracey Walker pushed Santa Clara's advantage to 66-41 with 9:05 left. Consecutive buckets by Stephanie Hawk and Raeanne Jewell moved Gonzaga to within 71-54 with 6:19 left.

Anne Bailey free throws cut Santa Clara's lead to 71-60 with 2:50 remaining in the game.

Gonzaga jumped out to a 9-2 lead over Santa Clara in the opening minutes of the first half. Burke scored four points in the Bulldog run. Santa Clara tied the game at 11-11 with 10:25 to go on baskets by Tori Markey. The Broncos took their first lead of the half on a bucket by Cozad with 9:43 remaining. Walker's basket capped a 7-0 Bronco run.

Hot shooting by Graham sparked Santa Clara on a 12-4 run to build its advantage to 31-21 with 5:25 left in the half. Cozad hit consecutive 3-pointers to fuel the Broncos spurt. Graham hit four 3-pointers during the half and totaled 17 points to pace Santa Clara. A Graham bucket stretched Santa Clara's margin to 43-29 with less than two minutes in the half. Santa Clara finished the half with a 46-32 lead.

Burke paced Gonzaga in scoring with 17 first half points. Shannon Mathews entered off the Bulldog bench to play 12 minutes and post six points on two three-pointers.

Santa Clara drained nine 3-pointers in the opening half on 9-of-15 shooting for 60 percent. The Broncos shot 56.7 percent from the field.

Gonzaga shot 40.7 percent from the field on 11-of-27 shooting. The Bulldogs committed 10 turnovers during the first 20 minutes of play.

Tournament MVP
Michelle Cozad, Santa Clara

All-Tournament Team
Ashley Burke, Gonzaga
Michelle Cozad, Santa Clara
Ashley Graham, Santa Clara
Kayla Huss, Santa Clara
Jennifer Lacy, Pepperdine