SAN DIEGO – The San Diego women's basketball program (10-9, 4-4 WCC) held the lead in the final minute of the game, but could not outlast Santa Clara (12-9, 3-5 WCC) falling 62-56, on Thursday night at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
 
Laura Erikstrup led all Toreros with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Kiera Oakry added nine points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams got off to slow starts from the field and were only tied at 4-4 through the first eight minutes.
• However, the Toreros offense clicked with an 8-2 run to end the period, behind four points from Kylie Horstmeyer.
• The Toreros were also able to get strong production from freshman Melesungu Afeaki, who went for a new career-high of seven points in the first half against the Broncos.
• Afeaki nailed a pair of jumpers, with the latter giving San Diego a 24-15 advantage.
• Amanda Olinger helped to create some space with a three pointer late in the half to take a 10-point lead and the Toreros would ultimately lead 29-21 at the break.
• The Broncos came out of halftime hot from the field, as they quickly erased the Torero lead to tie the game at 33-33 halfway through the third quarter.
• Erikstrup and Veronica Sheffey were quick to answer, with each player scoring multiple buckets off the fast break and giving San Diego a 43-42 lead at the end of three quarters.
• The two sides traded leads throughout the fourth quarter, with the Broncos going ahead 53-51 with 2:02 remaining.
• Oakry would answer immediately with a three pointer to give the Toreros a lead and Kasey Neubert would hit a pair of free throws to give San Diego a 56-55 advantage with 55 seconds left in the contest.
• However, the Broncos got a basket from Ashlee Maldonado with 39 seconds left and did not look back, securing the victory at the free throw line.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• With one offensive rebound on the day, Myah Pace moved into a tie for tenth on the program's all-time list, matching Jill Shaver (215).
• Neubert set a new career in rebounds with 17 on the night. Her 17 rebounds are the most by any Torero since Maya Hood had 18 against BYU on Dec. 23, 2015.
• Erikstrup notched only the second double-double of her collegiate career in the loss, with her last one also coming against Santa Clara back in 2020.
• As a whole, the Toreros delivered their second largest rebounding output and rebounding margin of the season, out-rebounding the Broncos 49-31.

 
UP NEXT
The Toreros will finish up the two-game homestand with a matchup against San Francisco on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed via the WCC Network.