Sports Briefs
Compiled by Robert Haugh & Melissa McKenzie

Bruins Play Tough Against Bears in CCS Division I Playoffs. The Bruins played a physical game at No. 2 Menlo Atherton on November 18, but were not able to overcome a 30-point first half deficit, eventually falling to the Bears 40-22 on a cold, windy evening on the Peninsula.

Sophomore Adam Garza sparked the Bruins’ hopes of an amazing comeback by opening the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return for a TD, but the Bears answered with a TD of their own, and added a Field Goal to go up 40-6 entering the fourth.

Senior QB Jason Plater connected with Senior Kingsley Okakpu from 19 yards with Sophomore Edward Munguia then scoring on the two-point conversion, pulling the Bruins closer, now trailing 40-14. Junior Adrian Gutierrez found the end zone on a 1-yard run with another Munguia two-point run, pulling the Bruins to within 18, now facing a 40-22 deficit. But it was too little, too late, as the Bears’ dominating first half clinched the win for Menlo-Atherton.

The Bears’ Defense held the Bruins at bay, amassing two sacks, two INTs and a fumble recovery.

Chargers Put Up Fight Against Serra in CCS Division I Playoffs. Though the Chargers held the Padres’ top-ranked rushing attack to a total of only 182 yards, host Serra, the No. 1 seed still found a way to dominate the Chargers 38-6 on November 19.

The Padres defeated the Chargers earlier in the season 52-6 and the Chargers found themselves trailing 24-0 at the half.

Serra added another TD on the second half kickoff, extending their lead to 31-0.The Chargers answered with a TD drive of their own, which saw Junior Roland Luke score on a five-yard run, but it was the Chargers’ lone score.

Serra amassed four sacks and a fumble recovery.

Santa Clara University Men’s Basketball Loses at UCSB, Beats SJSU. The Broncos fell to Santa Barbara 89-56 on Tuesday, November 15. The team shot 32.8% from the field and collected 31 rebounds, eight assists, four steals, three blocks, 12 turnovers, and went 12 of 19 from the free throw line. Individually, junior Niyi Harrison led the team with 15 points and five rebounds. Led by the 19 points and 10 rebounds of sophomore John McArthur, the Broncos defeated San Jose State on Saturday, November 19, 85-58. SCU shot 46.2% from the field including 29.0% from three point range and collected 50 rebounds, 15 assists, two steals, five blocks and 11 turnovers. SCU will next play New Mexico in Anaheim, California on Thursday, November 24 at 6 p.m.

Santa Clara University Women’s Basketball Wins Three. The Broncos picked up three wins this last week defeating Northern Colorado 71-37 on Wednesday, November 16, Southern Utah 79-78 on Friday, November 18 and Long Beach State 73-63 on Monday, November 21. Junior Ruta Zurauskyte picked up a career-high 18 points and nine rebounds in the victory over Northern Colorado. It was the first time SCU had held a team to under 39 points since December 13, 1987. Against, Southern Utah, senior Alyssa Shoji made three consecutive three-pointers in the last 1:15 minutes of the game and junior Ashley Armstrong scored the winning basket with 6.2 seconds left. Shoji’s 21 points moved her past the 1,000 career-point marker. Zurauskyte added 21 points and 13 rebounds. Shoji scored a game-high 23 points in the win over Long Beach State. SCU will next play UC Davis at home, Monday, November 28 at 7 p.m.

Santa Clara University Men’s Water Polo Wraps Up Season at WWPA Championship. The Broncos advanced to the semi-final round with a 10-6 win over Pomona-Pitzer on Friday, November 18. Redshirt senior Daley Meistrell led the team with three goals, followed by senior James Case, freshman Kyle Surber and senior Marcus Akerland with two goals apiece, and redshirt freshman Matt Kochalko with one goal in the win. In the semifinal match, SCU fell to San Diego 10-2. Meistrell scored the Broncos’ two goals. SCU then played in the consolation game against Loyola Marymount where the Broncos lost 10-7. Meistrell, Case, Kochalko and Surber scored as did sophomore David Guibord. Senior Brett Zylstra, and redshirt sophomore Jimmy Moore all scored and senior goalie Michael Wishart made eight saves in the loss.

Santa Clara University Women’s Volleyball Ends Season with Two Losses. SCU lost to University of San Diego in straight sets on Thursday, November 17 and ended the season with a home loss to Saint Mary’s College (3-0) on Saturday, November 19. SCU received a team-high 11 kills from junior Kayla Lommori and six blocks from junior Dana Knudsen in the loss to USD (25-17, 25-23, 25-21). In the loss to LMU (26-24, 25-22, 25-20), SCU hit .252 with 48 kills. The team collected 60 digs, 45 assists, three team blocks, and one service ace. Individually, the team was led by redshirt sophomore Katherine Douglas with 14 kills and Knudsen with nine.