Kerri Gasper and Ashley Hawkins finished in double figures, but Morgan McGwire of Santa Clara posted a game-high 17 points to lead the Broncos to a 62-44 win in the finale of the Cal Poly/ShareSLO Holiday Tournament.
Gasper posted a team-best 11 points as she knocked down six free throws and hit a pair of shots. She recorded six rebounds and five steals. Hawkins had a productive day, hitting 4 of her 5 shots to finish with 10 points. Turnovers plagued both squads as the Aces committed 36 and Santa Clara had 29.
McGwire had the top output of the night, totaling 17 points and six rebounds. Savanna Hanson posted 14 points.
Santa Clara got off to a strong start as a Dru Toleafoa triple put them up 14-2 just six minutes into the game. Evansville was able to hang tough as they scored the final seven points of the opening quarter to trail by a 14-9 score at the break. Laura Friday hit a three in the last minute to get UE close.
In the second quarter, the Broncos were able to stretch the lead back out to nine points, but Evansville stayed strong as Camary Williams hit the final bucket of the half to send the Aces to the locker room trailing 29-22.
Friday found her stroke once again as her triple on the first possession for UE got them within four at 29-25. The three’s kept falling as one by Dickey at the 1:45 mark of the third stanza got the Aces within just two at 37-35, their closest margin since the opening minutes.
A turning point came on the next Santa Clara possession as Lori Parkinson grabbed an offensive board and put it back to put the Broncos back up by four. Her effort spearheaded a 7-0 run to end the third as the Broncos were able to lead 44-35.
Evansville was able to get within just eight points in the first moments of the fourth quarter, but the Broncos proved to be too much as they added to the lead and held on for the 62-44 triumph. On Wednesday, the Aces play the final game of a season-opening six-game road trip as they head to Bowling Green for a 5 p.m. CT tilt.
