Santa Clara women’s basketball opens its season Monday, Nov. 2, at Wyoming in Laramie. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m. Mountain time, or 5:30 p.m. Pacific, on Mountain West Plus.
The favorite
Santa Clara was picked first in the West Coast Conference preseason poll, edging Portland 74-71 in points. The program says that’s a first since at least 1998. Last season the Broncos went 24-10, played in the WBIT and set a program record by scoring 80.2 points per game in Loree Payne’s first year as coach.
Ten players return, accounting for more than 80% of last season’s scoring. They include Maia Jones (15.0 points per game), Ava Schmidt and Sophie Glancey (14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds), who is back from an elbow injury. Newcomers include New Mexico transfers Joana Magalhaes and Emma Najjuma and freshmen Brooke Blachly and Quinsey Bryan.
The opponent
Wyoming was picked seventh in the Mountain West. Santa Clara is 2-0 all-time against the Cowgirls.