Santa Clara hires former assistant Payne as coach

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- JR Payne has been hired as women's basketball coach at Santa Clara. Payne, a former Santa Clara assistant who played at West Coast Conference rival Saint Mary's College, spent the past five seasons coaching Southern Utah - and her team won a school-record 23 games while reaching the postseason for the first time. Payne replaces Jennifer Mountain, whose contract wasn't renewed after six seasons. The Broncos went 10-20 this season, including 6-12 in the West Coast Conference. Mountain finished with a 56-127 record.