Game No. 19 - Gonzaga at University of Portland
Saturday, January 29, 5:15 p.m. PST
Chiles Center - Portland, OR

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (8-9, 1-3 in WCC)
G - 5 Jessica Waltz, 5-6, Sr., Costa Mesa, CA
(1.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.9 assists)
G - 21 Holly Bruno, 5-10, Jr., Spokane, WA
(11.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.1 assists)
C - 44 Sydney Perno, 6-1 Sr., Spokane, WA
(9.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.4 assists)
F - 24 Jessica Malone, 5-10, So., Vancouver, WA
(14.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.9 assists)
F - 32 Kristin Deal, 5-11, Sr., Kent, WA
(5.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.9 assists)
HEAD COACH: Kellee Barney (University of Idaho, 1983)
GONZAGA RECORD: 44-107 (6th year) CAREER RECORD: Same

UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND (7-12, 0-4 in West Coast Conference)
G - 11 Trisha Felts, 5-7, Jr., San Carlos, CA
(8.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.5 assists)
G - 25 Sharon Rissmiller, 5-11, Jr., Tigard, OR
(13.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 assists)
C - 54 Sarah Green, 6-3, Sr., Portland, OR
(15.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 0.6 assists)
F - 22 Tami Standish, 6-2, So., Ellensburg, WA
(9.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.2 assists)
F - 52 Jennifer Swinton, 6-1, Jr., Spokane, WA
(2.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.5 assists)
HEAD COACH: Jim Sollars (Seattle Pacific - 1966)
UP RECORD: 202-170 (14th year) CAREER RECORD: 379-252 (25th year)

ZAGS HOST UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND ON WEDNESDAY IN THE KENNEL, TRAVEL TO UP SATURDAY

GAELS GLIDE PAST ZAGS: With frigid temperatures outside the Martin Centre last Thursday, things didn't warm up inside for Gonzaga University as ice-cold field goal shooting led to a 69-36 loss to Saint Mary's College. The Zags connected on just 12-of-60 shots from the field for a frigid 20 percent and hit just 3-of-17 from 3-point range for an even more dismal 17.6 percent. The Gaels hit 29-of-65 shots on the night for 44.6 percent and buried 7-of-13 shots from beyond the arc (53.8 percent). Gonzaga high-scorer Jessica Malone knocked down just 2-of-9 shots on the night and was held under double digits in scoring for the first time in 11 games. Two-sport standout Heather Osberg led the Bulldogs with a season-high 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting including 3-of-4 from beyond 3-point range. Senior Kristin Deal pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds. Saint Mary's was led by Tracy Morris' 20 points while teammate Jerkisha Dosty added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

TOREROS TIP BULLDOGS: For the third consecutive game Gonzaga University could not overcome poor field goal shooting and lost to the University of San Diego 60-57 last Saturday. The Bulldogs finished the game with four more field goals than the Toreros (22-17) but hit just 32.8 percent of their shots from the field compared to USD's 43.6 percent. San Diego scored 20 points from the charity stripe to Gonzaga's eight. Junior Holly Bruno recovered from a recent shooting slump to lead the Zags with 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Kristin Deal recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while teammate Jessica Malone chipped in 10 points. Guard Kerri Nakamoto paced the Toreros with a game-high 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the 3-point arc.

PILOT POINTS:. The University of Portland brings a 7-12, 0-4 West Coast Conference record into this Wednesday's game against Gonzaga University. The Pilots have dropped their last five games dating back to a 65-47 win against cross-town rival Portland State University on Jan. 2. Senior Sarah Green tops all Portland players with an average of 15.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The two-time All-WCC center is also leading the Pilots with 25 blocks on the season. Junior guard Sharon Rissmiller is the only other Pilot to average in double figures at 13 ppg. Forward Tami Standish averages 9.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Spokane native Jennifer Swinton has played in the last two games for the Pilots, picking up a start against Saint Mary's College last Saturday. A common opponent for the Zags and the Pilots this season has been Eastern Washington University. The Zags beat the Eagles 61-44 on Nov. 30 and 58-57 on Dec. 17. The Pilots dropped their game with the Eagles 66-55 on Jan. 4. Portland leads the series with Gonzaga 17-12 and has won 12 of the last 13 meetings with the Bulldogs.

THIRD TIME IS A CHARM: Gonzaga University will attempt to end a three-game losing streak this Wednesday when it hosts the University of Portland. The Bulldogs broke a three-game skid earlier this season when they picked up a 76-71 win at the University of San Francisco to open West Coast Conference action. The victory against the Dons was the first for the Zags in San Francisco since the 1988-89 season. Despite beating the Pilots 77-65 last season in the Martin Centre, the Bulldogs' previous win against UP at home came in 1993, a span of four games.

KRISTIN THE REAL DEAL: Senior Kristin Deal is announced at all Gonzaga University home games as "the Real Deal" and the 5-10 senior has been living up to her nickname for the Zags. Deal has been a menace on the boards the entire season for the Bulldogs and leads the team with an average of 6.8 rpg. Last week against Saint Mary's College, Deal ripped down eight boards then came back against the University of San Diego on Saturday and posted her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Deal has reached double figures in rebounds in a team-high four games this season. The Southwest Airlines Lobo Classic All-Tournament selection also leads the Zags in field goal percentage, connecting on 45.6 percent of her shots.

NOTHING IS FREE: Gonzaga University is shooting a woeful 59.8 percent from the free throw line for the season. The Zags opponents are knocking down 65.7 percent of their shots from the charity stripe. During the 1998-99 season the Bulldogs shot 65.4 percent from the line while their opponents were making a 64.3 percent clip.

HOME AND HOME: The University of Portland and Gonzaga University will renew their West Coast Conference rivalry this Wednesday in the Martin Centre and then again this Saturday in the Chiles Center. The Bulldogs and Pilots have competed in back-to-back home games during every season since 1987. The Pilots hold the all-time series advantage in West Coast Conference play at 17-10.

MAKING A POINT: Gonzaga University averages 63.4 ppg compared to its opponents 65.6 ppg. The Zags have improved their scoring output from last season when they averaged 60.3 points per contest. The Bulldogs have also improved their scoring defense from 1998-99 when their opponents averaged 70.8 points per game.

EYING THE ARC: During last weeks games against Saint Mary's College and the University of San Diego, Gonzaga University was outscored from beyond the 3-point arc. The Bulldogs connect on an average of 33.7 percent of their shots from 3-point range for the season but are hitting just 29.7 percent in their four West Coast Conference games. The Bulldogs WCC opponents are nailing 51.8 percent of their shots from long range.

V-BALL THEN B-BALL: Forward Heather Osberg may have joined the Gonzaga University basketball team late because of finishing up the Zags volleyball season, but the 6-2 Vancouver, British Columbia, native made her presence known in last Thursday's game against Saint Mary's College. Osberg led the Zags with a season-high 11 points on 4-of-9 from the floor and hit 3-of-4 from beyond the 3-point arc.

BARNEY BITS: Gonzaga University head coach Kellee Barney enters her sixth season at the Bulldogs helm after a 9-year stint as assistant coach at Washington State University. The native of Leavenworth, WA, is a graduate of the University of Idaho, and began her coaching career at Portland State University under current University of Portland head coach Jim Sollars. She was at PSU from 1983-85, then moved to WSU under former head coach Harold Rhodes. She was the associate head coach her last two seasons with Rhodes.

WHERE THEY ALL STACK UP IN THE WCC

Points per game:
Jessica Malone 14.4 (7)
Holly Bruno 11.6 (11)
Sydney Perno 9.4 (23)

Rebounds per game:
Kristin Deal 6.8 (6)

Field Goal Percentage
(3-made shots/gm):
Sydney Perno .454 (9)

Assists per game:
Jessica Waltz 2.9 (9)

3-Point Field Goal Percentage:
Jessica Malone .378 (7)
Holly Bruno .368 (10)

3-Point Field Goals:
Jessica Malone 48 (1)
Holly Bruno 35 (3)

Blocked Shots:
Melanie Tipps 12 (6)
Sydney Perno 8 (10)

Offensive Rebounds:
Kristin Deal 45 (9)
Sydney Perno 44 (10)