Feb. 20, 2003

Box Score

(San Francisco) - USF trailed by nine with four minutes remaining on the road at long-time West Coast Conference nemesis Santa Clara. Anyone who has not seen the Lady Dons this season would find this a reason for serious concern... except the Lady Dons and their diehard supporters. USF used a late 15-4 run to defeat the Broncos 69-67 in a WCC women's game Thursday at the Leavey Center. The victory gave San Francisco (10-15, 5-6 WCC) their first win on Santa Clara's (16-8, 7-4 WCC) home floor since the 1997 season.

San Francisco looked down and out multiple times in a game with a surreal feeling. The Broncos led by as many as seven points in the first half, but the Lady Dons roared back to within two on, 31-29 at halftime. Following the intermission, Santa Clara built an 11-point lead with 7:19 remaining, 62-51 and USF looked like they were on the way to their seventh straight loss at the Leavey Center. Following a timeout, USF began to chip away.

Sophomore guard Toni Russell drained a 3-pointer to start things off at the 4:01 mark to make the score 63-57. On the next possession, junior forward Carey Sauer nailed another three to pull within three points 63-60. Santa Clara took a timeout. It didn't help. Junior center Mary Jane Krueger hit a jumper in the paint to make it a 63-62 game with 2:33 remaining.

Four free throws gave the Broncos a 67-64 lead with 0:24 left. USF was unimpressed and freshman Joy Hollingsworth drained a 3-pointer off a high screen to tie the game once again. Sauer hit a driving jumper to give the Lady Dons the win with four seconds left, 69-67.

Sauer finished with a game-high 27 points on 10-of-21 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from beyond the 3-point line to go along with seven rebounds. Hollingsworth added 14 points. Krueger scored 13 points to go along with seven rebounds in 23 minutes.

San Francisco was deadly from the floor in the second half, converting on .571 (16-28); .475 (28-59). Santa Clara converted on .423 (22-52). USF committed 17 turnovers, but only had four in the second half.

USF returns to action when they travel to San Diego Saturday in continuing WCC action. Game time against the Toreros is scheduled for 7:00 PM at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

NOTES: The last time USF beat the Broncos on their home floor, the final score was 69-67 February 2, 1997... USF improved to 7-7 on the road during the 2002-2003 season, including a 4-2 mark during WCC road contests.