USC
Santa Clara
USC Rallys To Defeat Santa Clara, 71-64
March 16, 2000 | Women's Basketball
March 16, 2000
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Erica Mashia and Tiffany Elmore each scored a game-high 18 points as USC overcame a 13-point first half deficit to defeat host Santa Clara, 71-64, in the first round of the 2000 Women's National Invitational Tournament.
The Trojans, who won despite shooting just 33.3 percent, converted 30 Bronco turnovers for 31 points. Conversely, Santa Clara scored just seven points off 12 USC turnovers. The Women of Troy led the Pac-10 conference in turnover margin (+2.3) this season.
USC improves to 16-13 and will travel to Colorado State for the WNIT second round game on Saturday (March 18) at 7 p.m. Santa Clara finishes the 1999-2000 season at 21-9.
Nine of Elmore's 18 points came at the line as the sophomore guard shot a season-high 9-of-11on the night. Mashia led the team with seven rebounds, including six offensive boards as USC collected 19 team offensive rebounds, compared to the Broncos' six.
Jennifer Glysson led Santa Clara with 16 points and eight rebounds. Katie Pursley was 5-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-2 from three-point range en route to 12 points and Tammy Annas connected on all five of her shots to finish with 11 points off the bench.
Santa Clara took its last lead of the game, 40-39, in the second half with 17:02 remaining, then committed 15 turnovers as USC rallied for the win. Two free throws from Glysson brought the Broncos within three at 53-50 with just under six minutes to play, but that would be as close as Santa Clara would get. Mashia scored six points and Carmen Krause added four to spark a 15-8 Trojan run that put the Women of Troy ahead by 10 with less then a minute remaining. USC held on for the 71-64 triumph.
Santa Clara used an 18-5 run to bolt out to a 23-10 lead after the first ten minutes of the game. USC then rallied, scoring 20 of the next 26 points to take a one-point lead at 30-29. The Broncos closed out the half by scoring the last five points to take a 34-30 lead into intermission.
