GAMEDAY Womens Basketball

Gonzaga 71, Santa Clara 52

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Jill Townsend scored 20 points and No. 20 Gonzaga used a strong start to roll to a 71-52 win over Santa Clara for the Bulldogs' 10th-straight victory.

Jenn Wirth added 15 points for the Bulldogs (11-2, 6-0 West Coast Conference), who shot 59% (30 of 51) while making 7 of 13 from 3-point range.

Merle Wiehl scored 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting for the Broncos (7-5, 3-3) and Ashlyn Herlihy eight to reach 1,000 for her career.

Wirth and Townsend combined to go 8 for 8 and the Bulldogs were 12 of 13 with two 3-pointers to race to a 27-10 lead over Wiehl, who had all the Santa Clara points in the first quarter, also on 4-for-4 shooting.

The lead got to 22 points in the second quarter and the Zags led 40-25 at the break. Bryce Nixon hit a 3-pointer as time ran out to pull Santa Clara within 52-39 after three quarters and Herlihy had a 3 to open the fourth quarter. Gonzaga then reeled off 14 straight to wrap it up.

Associated Press