SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging Santa Clara women’s basketball team looks to continue its push near the top of the West Coast Conference when it hosts rival Saint Mary’s on Thursday night at Leavey Center. The Broncos (20-7 overall) enter the matchup having won five of their last six games, including a 77-66 road victory at Portland on Feb. 14. They boast a potent offense, having scored 93 and 102 points in two of their recent wins. Saint Mary’s (15-12) seeks consistency after alternating wins and losses over its past six contests. The Gaels are coming off an 86-59 home win over Seattle on Monday, but fell 56-53 to Pacific in their previous outing. Santa Clara won the first meeting this season, 68-63, at Saint Mary’s on Jan. 17. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s standout guards. Santa Clara’s Delainey Miller is averaging 15.3 points over her last three games, including a 21-point performance against Portland. She scored 19 points in the Jan. 22 rout of Seattle. For the Gaels, Malia Latu has been a steady contributor, scoring in double figures in four of her last seven games. She posted 11 points, three rebounds and four assists in just 22 minutes during Monday’s win. The Broncos’ offense runs through Ashley Hawkins, who dished out seven assists against Portland, and Maia Jones, who added 19 points in that game. Saint Mary’s will counter with the interior presence of Charlece Ohiaeri, who had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists off the bench Monday, and Edie Clarke, who grabbed seven rebounds. With the conference tournament approaching, the game carries weight for seeding. Santa Clara aims to solidify its position among the league leaders, while Saint Mary’s looks to secure a winning season and improve its standing. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST. The Gaels host San Francisco on Saturday, while the Broncos travel to face Pepperdine.