Women's Hoops In Great Alaska Shootout
11/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2001
Women's Basketball Game FactsCarrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout - Anchorage, AK
Game No. 3 - Alaska-Anchorage
Tuesday, Nov. 20 - 7 p.m. PST
GONZAGA UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (1-1, 0-0 West Coast Conference)
G - 32 Raeanna Jewell, 5-10, Fr., Veradale, WA
(14 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7.0 assists)
G - 5 Celeste Quitiquit, 5-5, Jr., Burien, WA
(2.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 5.0 assists)
C - 35 Bernice Stime, 5-8, Sr., Deer Park, WA
(13.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 6.0 assists)
F - 24 Jessica Malone, 5-10, Sr., Vancouver, WA
(17.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.0 assists)
F - 13 Ashley Burke, 6-1, Fr., North Vancouver, BC
(13.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.0 assists)
HEAD COACH: Kelly Graves (University of New Mexico, 1988)
GONZAGA RECORD: 6-24 (2nd year) CAREER RECORD: 72-50 (5th year)
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA-ANCHORAGE SEAWOLVES (1-1, 0-0 Great NW Athletic)
G - 11 Tanya Nizich, 5-8, So., Juneau, AK
(14.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 assists)
G - 15 Stephanie Johnson, 5-4, Sr., Chippewa Falls, WI
(8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 assists)
G - 12 Jessica Reilly, 5-6, Fr., Kenai, AK
(4.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 12.0 assists)
C - 55 Bell Jordan, 6-2, Sr., Stockton, CA
(11.0 ppg, 11 rpg, 1.0 assists)
F - 42 Lindsay Behrends, 5-11, Jr., Varna, Bulgaria
(3.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 assists)
HEAD COACH: Brandi Dunigan (University of Kentucky, 1992)
UAA RECORD: 34-22 (2nd year) CAREER RECORD: 34-22 (2nd year)
Wed., Nov. 21, 3:30/6:30 p.m. PST
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HAWKEYES(1-0) MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN EAGLES(0-1)
SERIES RECORD: First Meeting SERIES RECORD: First Meeting
HEAD COACH: Lisa Bluder HEAD COACH: Terri Mitchell
IOWA RECORD: 21-10 (2nd year) MU RECORD: 99-49 (6th year)
CAREER RECORD: 378-152 (16th year) CAREER RECORD: Same
NORTH TO ALASKA: Gonzaga University's women's basketball is no stranger to the Great Alaska Shootout. The Bulldogs competed in what was the predecessor to the women's version of the current tournament - the Northern Lights Invitational. The Northern Lights was held following the regular season, the Bulldogs competing in the 1987 rendition from Feb. 27-29. Gonzaga went 1-2 that year, falling to the University of New Orleans and the University of Miami, Fla., prior to ending the tourney with a victory over Radford University. The 1986-987 season was Gonzaga's first as a NCAA Division I women's basketball program, making the move from the NAIA ranks.
BULLDOGS VS. SEAWOLVES: Gonzaga University's women's basketball (1-1) opens the Great Alaska Shootout Tuesday against tournament host University of Alaska Anchorage (1-1) at Sullivan Arena at 7 p.m. PST. The mid-week contest marks the first time the Seawolves and Bulldogs have met. Head coach Brandi Dunigan begins her third season guiding UAA. The Seawolves are coming off of a 2001 season record of 13-14, finishing 8th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Dunigan graduated all of her starters last season but returns five letterwinners. The Seawolves opened the season splitting two games against Christian Heritage. Sophomore Tanya Nizich and senior Bell Jordan scored a team-high 14 points each in UAA's 67-54 win over CH. Jordan collected a combined 22 rebounds in both contests.
FIRST MEETING GUARANTEED: Although Gonzaga University doesn't know if it will be in the consolation or championship game Wednesday, the Bulldogs are assured of one thing. Whether it's the University of Iowa or Marquette University providing the competition on Wednesday it will be the inaugural meeting for the Bulldogs against either club.
BULLDOGS DROP SEASON OPENER: Gonzaga University's women's basketball team dropped its season opener last Friday against New Mexico State University 78-71 in the first game of the American Dream Classic hosted by Idaho State University. The Aggies pulled away in the first half, scoring the first nine points before Bulldog forward Jessica Malone answered with a 3-pointer five minutes into the game. The Aggies continued to connect, led by Mari Sanchez who connected on 4-of-8 shots from 3-point range. The Bulldogs ended the half shooting 23.5 percent but kept alive from the free throw line shooting 75 percent. Malone led the Zags offense with 17 points. Ashley Burke tallied 15 points.
BULLDOGS HIT WIN COLUMN: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team (1-1) snapped a 16-game losing streak last Saturday by defeating host Idaho State University 83-68 during the second day of the American Dream Classic in Pocatello, Idaho. Senior guard Bernice Stime led the Bulldogs with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Jessica Malone and Raeanna Jewell contributed 18 points each while Jewell pulled down nine rebounds. The Bengals and the Bulldogs traded the lead 10 times in the first seven minutes before ISU went on a 13-4 run 12 minutes into the first half. Malone brought the Bulldogs within one (32-31) with 4:00 to go in the half consecutive 3-pointers. Freshman guard Juliann Laney tied the game 36-36 with 1:30 to go with a long 3-point bomb. Jewell gave the Bulldogs the 40-38 lead at the half with a dramatic jumper at the buzzer. The Bulldogs built on their halftime lead to pull ahead by as many as 15 points in the second half. GU shot 54 percent from the field and 88 percent from the line.
BACK HOME TO FACE PACIFIC: There won't be much time to rest when Gonzaga University returns from the Great Alaska Shootout. The Bulldogs make their regular-season home debut Saturday against the University of the Pacific Tigers at 7 p.m. in The Kennel. The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 84-70 last season in Stockton, Calif. This will be the third meeting between the teams, splitting the first two contests. Head coach Sherri Murrell is returning two starters and 10 letterwinners to the Tigers roster. The Tigers tied Long Beach State last season for second place in the Big West Conference, finishing 10-5 in conference play. Sophomore Nancy Dinges, a 2000-01 Big West All-Freshman team selection, scored 27 points Saturday in the Tigers final exhibition game. UOP plays at Sacramento State University Tuesday.
MALONE MAKES ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Senior forward Jessica Malone was named to the American Dream Classic All-Tournament team last weekend at Idaho State University. She scored 36 points and grabbed six rebounds in two games. The Bulldogs (1-1) placed second in the tournament behind New Mexico State (2-0) while Idaho State (1-1) collected third place and University of Idaho (0-2) finished fourth.
GU TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team is now 16-31 in tournament play since joining the NCAA Division I ranks for the 1986-87 season. Gonzaga has yet to win a tournament in its Division I history, but has seven runner-up finishes to its credit.
BULLDOGS BREAK LOSING STREAK: Gonzaga snapped a 16-game losing streak Saturday when they routed Idaho State University 83-68. The Bulldogs had not won a regular-season game since Jan. 2, 2001, when they defeated Colgate University 67-56 in the Spokane Arena. Idaho State, the defending Big Sky Conference champions, had a 17-game home winning streak broken.
MALONE LOOKS TO THE 2002 RECORD BOOKS: Senior forward Jessica Malone is nine 3-pointers away from becoming the all-time West Coast Conference 3-point leader. Malone sits second with 215 3-pointers behind Deana Lansing from the University of Portland who compiled 223 from 1993-97 in 119 games. Gonzaga women's basketball head coach Kelly Graves recruited, signed and coached Lansing during her streak at Portland. Malone sank seven from the field on Friday and Saturday during the American Dream Classic.
WHEN BULLDOGS FLY: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team plays its first four regular season games on the road before opening home play Saturday, Nov. 24, at the Kennel. The Bulldogs will travel more than 5,000 miles in the air between Nov. 16 and Nov. 22. The Zags will have time to shake off the jet leg as they play their next six contests in eastern Washington beginning with Saturday home opener against the University of the Pacific. Gonzaga will then play Nov. 29 at Washington State University, Dec. 1 at home against St. Martin's College, Dec. 4 at nearby Eastern Washington University, Dec. 6 at home against Whitworth College and Dec. 8 in The Kennel against visiting Cal State University-Fullerton. The next time Gonzaga departs the area will be Dec. 14 for a trip to Boise State University.
GRAVES GOOD THINGS: "I am really excited. This was a good win for our program," said Gonzaga women's basketball head coach Kelly Graves about last Saturday's 83-68 win over Idaho State University. "Our team showed good composure."
GRAVES ON GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT: "We feel a lot more confidant. This is a long trip but coming off a win has made it more enjoyable," Gonzaga University head coach Kelly Graves said of heading north to the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout. "All of the teams are top programs and we're just excited to be a part of the group. We are playing a tough early schedule to see what kind of team we have. What I saw last Saturday night is encouraging."
