Preview: Santa Clara Broncos at Seattle Redhawks, Women’s Basketball

SEATTLE (Interstat) — A surging Santa Clara squad looks to continue its winning ways when it visits a struggling Seattle team in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup Thursday at Redhawk Center.

The Broncos (16-5) enter on a strong run, having won four of their last five games, including a 68-63 road victory at Saint Mary’s on Saturday. Seattle (5-12) seeks to halt a two-game skid after an 83-57 loss at Portland that same day.

The teams met just over three weeks ago, with Santa Clara delivering a dominant 94-65 win at home on Dec. 30. The Broncos have since maintained their form, while the Redhawks have managed only one victory in their last seven contests.

A key player to watch is Santa Clara’s Maia Jones, who is coming off a 17-point performance against Saint Mary’s. Over her last eight games, Jones has averaged 16.1 points, showcasing consistent scoring ability. She scored six points in the December meeting with Seattle.

For the Redhawks, guard Tamia Stricklin will be central to their hopes of an upset. She leads the team in recent scoring, averaging 14.1 points over her last seven games. Stricklin was a bright spot in the first matchup, scoring a team-high 17 points against the Broncos.

Santa Clara’s offense has been potent, surpassing 90 points three times this season. Seattle has found points harder to come by, held under 70 in 11 of its 17 games.

The game is a final nonconference tune-up for both programs before resuming their respective league schedules. Santa Clara will host Washington State next Thursday, Jan. 29. Seattle continues its homestand against Saint Mary’s on Saturday.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PST at Redhawk Center.