Dec. 17, 2000

Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State University used a 19-4 run late in the second half to pull away from Gonzaga University and take a 74-56 non-conference women's basketball victory Sunday afternoon at Friel Court.

With the Bulldogs (3-6) leading 50-49 on a 3-pointer by Jessica Malone with 9:07 to play, the Cougars (4-4) took the lead for good on a 3-point play by Brittney Hawks as she was fouled by Amanda Fahsholtz on a layin and sank the ensuing free throw. A Gonzaga turnover and a Hawks putback after grabbing her missed layin gave WSU a 54-50 edge. A Fahsholtz layin pulled the Bulldogs to within 54-52 with 7:47 remaining. The teams traded baskets one more time before the Cougars scored 12 unanswered points to complete the 19-4 spurt. Victoria Harrod scored 7 of the final 12 points in the rally.

The Bulldogs held a 14-13 first-half lead with 10:14 to go when Malone completed a 3-point play, but the Cougars opened as much as a 13-point lead in the half at 35-22 with 3:00 to go. But the Bulldogs scored the final 8 points of the half to close the halftime gap to 35-32. An Erin Bergman free throw, layins by Fahsholtz and Bergman, and a Bergman 3-pointer cut into the WSU lead.

Bergman finished with a game-high 21 points, while Hawks paced the Cougars with 19. Malone struggled from the field with a 3-for-12 day, including 2-for-9 from 3-point range in finishing with 12 points. Bernice Stime came off the bench with 11 points for the Bulldogs.

WSU won the game on the boards, holding a 43-31 rebounding edge. The Cougars grabbed 18 offensive rebounds that they converted into 20 second-chance points. Gonzaga had just 7 offensive boards and 2 second-chance points.

Both teams did a poor job of taking care of the basketball, Gonzaga with 26 turnovers leading to 26 WSU points, while the Cougars were guilty of 19 turnovers that resulted in 25 Gonzaga points.

The Bulldogs return to action twice this week, heading to the University of Montana Wednesday and Montana State University Friday prior to Christmas break.