San Jose, Calif. - Guard Fieme'a Hafoka matched her career scoring high of 17 points for San Jose State University, but Santa Clara University edged the Spartans, 62-56, in a non-conference women's basketball game at The Event Center.
Hafoka was 8-for-11 from the field and converted her only three-point basket try in the first quarter as San Jose State's only double-figure scorer in the game.
Santa Clara (6-4) ended a three-game losing streak and handed the Spartans (1-8) their fifth loss in a row.
The Broncos never trailed after taking a 7-5 lead in the first quarter. The game was last tied at 23-23 until Ashyn Herily hit her second three-pointer of the quarter. Herily led all players in scoring with 20 points, her second game of 20 or more points this season.
San Jose State trailed at halftime, 31-25, and 46-41 after three quarters. The Broncos had their biggest lead of the game, 46-36, with 1:42 remaining in the third quarter, but baskets by Raziya Potter of the Spartans, a two and a three-pointer, in the final 1:33 cut the deficit in half.
Potter, who finished with eight points, got San Jose State as close as 57-56 on a 10-foot jumper in the lane with 1:01 to go. Guard Tia Hay, who finished with 17 points, answered with a driving lay-in for a 59-56 lead with 41.7 remaining in the game.
On the Spartans' next possession, Potter drove the lane, but had her shot blocked by Lauren Yearwood. Hay converted two free two throws and teammate Lexie Pritchard made 1-of-2 charity tosses to close out the scoring.
San Jose State converted 38.1 percent of its field goals tries, the fourth game in a row the Spartans were below the 40 percent threshold. Santa Clara, which came into the game a 38.5 field goal percentage shooting team, was slightly better at 40.3 percent.
San Jose State closes out its non-conference schedule with a pair of road games at CSUN on December 19 and at the University of San Diego on December 21.