They win cnference going away.
The Gonzaga University women's basketball team closed out its 2008 West Coast Conference regular season on a high note defeating Saint Mary's College 79-63 at the McKeon Pavilion Saturday afternoon in Moraga, Calif. The Bulldogs, who are WCC regular season champions for the fourth-straight year, finished the WCC season with a stellar 13-1 record; their second-straight season with only one loss in conference action.
Gonzaga now holds a 22-7 overall record. It is only the fourth time in school history GU has won 20 or more games and the third time under head coach Kelly Graves. Saint Mary's finishes the regular season with a 14-16 overall mark and a 6-8 record in the WCC.
The game was never in doubt for Gonzaga as it built a 28-point halftime advantage at 51-23. The Bulldogs were clicking on all cylinders in the first half, hitting a smoking 58.8% (20-34) from the field, including an impressive 77.8% (7-9) from behind the three-point arc.
The Zags held the Gaels to just 20.6% (7-34) shooting in the opening half, including 16.7% (1-6) accuracy from behind the three-point arc. Gonzaga also held the huge 31-12 rebounding advantage.
Gonzaga had three players score in double-figure points to help secure the Bulldogs large halftime advantage. Freshman Courtney Vandersloot finished with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 accuracy on three-pointers. She also grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds and dished out four assists. Sophomores Heather Bowman and Tiffanie Shives posted 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Saint Mary's used a strong opening second half to cut Gonzaga's lead to 17, 62-45, with 11:47 left in the contest. Only three players scored for the Gaels during their 22-11 run, including Louella Tomlinson with led the way with nine points. Serena Benavente added four points while Jontelle Smith drained back-to-back three-pointers to close out the SMC surge.
Gonzaga held steady though, never letting its lead dip below 14 points.
Bowman paced the Bulldogs in the second stanza, scoring nine points, while Vandersloot, sophomore Vivian Frieson and freshman Janelle Bekkering all chipped in four.
Bowman finished the contest with her third-straight 20-plus point performance. The Spokane native scored a game-high 20 points and added six rebounds, one block and one steal. Vandersloot closed out the contest with her first career double-double, registering 15 points and a career and game-high 11 rebounds.
Gonzaga finished the contest hitting 45.5% (30-66) of its shots, including 58.3% (7-12) from behind the three-point arc, and was 66.7% (12-18) at the free throw line.
The Bulldogs outrebounded the Gaels 53-35, including 15-11 on the offensive board.
Benavente and Smith led the way for Saint Mary's posted 16 and 15 points, respectively. The Gales finished the game shooting 28.8% (19-66) from the floor, 31.6% (6-19) on three-pointers, and 90.5% (19-21) at the charity stripe.
Gonzaga will be back in action on Thursday March 6 when it begins WCC Tournament action. The Bulldogs, who are the No. 1 seed, will play the No. 8 seed at 2 p.m. at the Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego, Calif.
0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-66 12-18 79.
I have always been impressed with UCONN and UNC's hoops programs. I actually hate them but I still have much respect for their programs. To have both the mens and womens teams constantly be in the top 25 and always in the running for the final four's, is truly impressive. Like the Yankees good players always want to play for them.
Is is tradition? Pride and Emotion? Money? What is it?
I think Gonzaga is achieving "it", whatever "it" is.