Women's Basketball

Faraudo: Women's First Round Recap

By Jeff Faraudo
#WCChoops Columnist | ARCHIVES
2020 WCC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

LAS VEGAS — The opening game in the University Credit Union West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament went an extra five minutes, and that may have benefited the Santa Clara women more than San Francisco.

The Broncos advanced with a 72-65 overtime victory at Orleans Arena on Thursday, getting contributions from nine different players. USF, which arrived in Vegas riding a three-game win streak, played with its six-player rotation and my have finally run out of gas.

“You can have depth, but it really helps when they all make a contribution. Tonight they did,” Santa Clara coach Bill Carr said after getting at least 15 minutes and four points from everyone he sent onto the floor.

Emily Wolph and Merle Wiehl each scored 11 points to lead the eight-seeded Broncos (12-18), who play Friday at noon against No. 5 Pacific (16-13). 

USF (12-19) goes home, but coach Molly Goodenbour had no complaints about the way her women competed.

“Just having six people available for the last three months . . . we’re tired,” she said, referring to the spate of injuries that decimated her roster. “You look at our kids’ faces and they’re exhausted. We need a break. They’ve given everything they have.”

Next up for the Broncos: Santa Clara and Pacific play for the third time after splitting the first two meetings. The Tigers won 71-69 at Stockton last Saturday.

Carr expects a tough game. “For us, it’s everybody being ready to play,” he said. “Pushing the ball when we have the opportunity. That’s when I think we’re at our best. And we’re going to have to guard. We’re going to have to guard the post and guard the 3-point line.”

Perfect in OT: Santa Clara used the free throw line to pull away from USF in overtime. The Broncos were 10-for-10, with Emily Wolph and Lindsey VanAllen each hitting four.

“It’s gut-wrenching,” Wohph said. “The game is on the line and so those free throws come up big. We’ve had some games recently where free throws have won us and also lost us the game. So we’ve been emphasizing how important free throws are.”

Williams finishes strong: Grad transfer Mikayla Williams came to USF from UC San Diego, where she was a Division II All-Americans last season. 

“Mikayla could probably be competing for a national championship at the Division II level this year,” Goodenbour said after Williams scored 21 points in her final college game. “She had the courage to know she wanted to be challenged in a different way.

“Mikayla has brought leadership, intelligence. She’s the one kid on the team who always knows what’s going on.”

Because of injuries on the roster, Williams was moved from her natural forward spot to play “behind-the-scenes point guard” at times and also learned to shoot from the 3-point arc for the first time.

“I really wanted to come to a place where I could make a difference and grow both as a person and athletically,” she said. “USF has really allowed me to do that.”

Stat of the game: How much was Santa Clara’s superior depth a factor? The Broncos’ bench outscored its USF counterparts 24-2.

Quote of the game: “Leilah is a tremendous competitor. She’s always been an undersized for a post player and she plays with a chip on her shoulder. I think she’s used to being underestimated. One of her strengths is her confidence.” — USF coach Molly Goodenbour on sophomore Leilah Vigil, the WCC’s rebounding leader, who had 17 points and 16 rebounds for her 15th double-double of the season.

SAINT MARY’S 72, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 63

The seventh-seeded Gaels (12-18) used their perimeter shooting and stiffer second-half defense to advance to a second-round game Friday against No. 6 Pepperdine (14-14). 

Sam Simons scored 18 points for the Gaels, Madeline Holland had 17, Katie Rathbun 15 and Taycee Wedin 14.

“We made enough baskets,” Gaels coach Paul Thomas said. “Katie and Taycee and Sam got loose on some threes and converted on those. Probably the last six minutes of so we did a great job of getting some defensive stops.”

Wedin sets WCC record: The Gaels’ sophomore guard entered the game with 99 3-point baskets this season, which tied the WCC single-season record set by Alyssa Shoji of Santa Clara in 2011-12.

Wedin didn’t have a great shooting game, but by going 2-for-9 she boosted her season total to 101 made threes to take sole ownership of the record.

Defense encourages coach: The Gaels’ biggest issue all season, according to Thomas, has been stopping opponents from penetrating their defense. LMU caused Saint Mary’s some trouble there early as the teams battled to a 36-all halftime standoff.

“When we’re making shots our defense seems to be better. From a coaching standpoint, I want that the other way around,” Thomas said. “But very pleased with what we did defensively in the second half.”

The Gaels will need more of the same against Pepperdine on Friday. “We’ve got to be a little more motivated, have our knees bent and see if we can stop them from getting in the paint,” Thomas said.

Lions motivated for next season: LMU (7-25) finished the season with 12 consecutive defeats, but coach Charity Elliott believes her squad, featuring six freshmen, will reap some benefits.

“This will be our motivation for moving forward,” she said. “We need to remember this feeling because we never want to feel it again. We know a lot of good things are coming. To say we’re excited about next year is an understatement. And I say that while I’m very sad right now.”

Said junior Jasmine Jones, “It was not the year we wanted but it was probably the year that was supposed to happen. Next year we have to have that mentality that nobody's going to beat us.”

Ellington shows her potential: The best of the Lions’ freshmen is CiCi Ellington, who scored a career-high 25 points in the season finale.

“CiCi had a phenomenal freshman season. Her progression has been remarkable,” said Elliott, alluding to Ellington’s 17.5 scoring average over the final four games.

Stat of the game: LMU shot better than 48 percent in the first half, but managed just 33 percent over the final two quarters.

Quote of the game: “The only way to go is up. I’m disappointed because I wanted to keep playing.” — LMU freshman CiCi Ellington.