CSU Bakersfield Drops Season Opener To Santa Clara 93-87

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Amber Williams (Jr., Fontana, Calif., Etiwanda HS) scored a career high 32 points but Santa Clara defeated CSU Bakersfield 93-87 in the 2011-12 women's basketball season opener for both schools Friday night at the Leavey Center.

The Roadrunners got off to a quick start, with Williams making three of the first four CSUB three-point attempts. CSU Bakersfield led by 12 with 8:39 to go in the first half. Santa Clara drew 16 first half fouls, coverting 15-of-19 free throw attempts to get back into the game. The Broncos used a 19-6 run at the end of the first half to take a 49-46 lead into halftime.

Santa Clara led for most of the second half, taking their largest lead of the game, 10 points, with 2:24 remaining. CSUB fought back. A Williams three-pointer led a charge that got the Roadrunners back to within three when Madison McKenney (So., San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic HS) hit a three-pointer with 41 seconds to go. CSUB fouled Santa Clara, but Nici Gilday missed the front half of a 1-n-1, giving the 'Runners the ball. Kristine Herman (R-Sr., San Ramon, Calif., Florida Gulf Coast) was called for a foul with 22 seconds to go as the Broncos would hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final seconds of the game for the final six-point margin.

Herman scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go along with five steals. Santa Clara held a 32-22 advantage at the free throw line with Meagan Fulps making 17-of-20 from the charity stripe. She led the Broncos with 30 points. SCU outrebounded the Roadrunners 48-33, but the CSUB pressure defense made 16 steals and forced 21 turnovers.

“I thought we had our chances,” said CSUB head coach Greg McCall. “We committed too many fouls and got outrebounded and that was the big difference. We had the opportunity late in the game to tie the game, but we turned the ball over. With that said, I thought our tempo was good and we forced 21 turnovers. I saw a lot of bright spots and things we can improve upon.”

The Roadrunners return home Sunday night when CSUB hosts Southern Oregon in a 7 p.m. matchup.

~www.GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#21 Kristine Herman: G; 5' 11"; Junior

#3 Amber Williams: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#24 Madison McKenney: G; 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#21 Kristine Herman
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G

#3 Amber Williams
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#24 Madison McKenney
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: G

Players Mentioned

#21 Kristine Herman

#3 Amber Williams

#24 Madison McKenney

Players Mentioned

#21 Kristine Herman

#3 Amber Williams

#24 Madison McKenney