Women's Basketball Heads To No. 19 Utah

Women's Basketball Weekly Notes - Dec. 2, 2003
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Gonzaga University Women's Basketball Notes

Dec. 2, 2003

Game No. 6 - at No. 19 University of Utah

Thursday, Dec. 4; 6 p.m. PST

Jon M. Huntsman Center (15,000), Salt Lake City, UT

Game No. 7 - at Weber State University

Saturday, Dec. 6; 7 p.m. PST
Dee Events Center (11,500) - Ogden, UT

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (2-3; 0-0 West Coast Conference)
G - 3 Rachel Kane, 5-7, Fr., Kaneohe, HI
     (7.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.6 apg)
G - 32 Raeanna Jewell, 5-7, Jr., Veradale, WA
     (8.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.6 apg)
F - 44 Anne Bailey, 6-0, So., Snohomish, WA
     (7.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.6 apg)
F - 13 Ashley Burke, 6-1, Jr., North Vancouver, BC
     (13.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.4 apg)
F - 30 Ashley Anderson, 6-0, So., Enterprise, OR
     (12.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.0 apg)
HEAD COACH: Kelly Graves (University of New Mexico, 1988)
GONZAGA RECORD: 34-56 (4th year) CAREER RECORD: 102-82 (7th year)

No. 19 UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UTES (3-1; 0-0 Mountain West)
G - 10 Shona Thorburn, 5-10, So., Hamilton, Ontario
     (15.0 ppg,  7.0 rpg, 5.0 apg)
G - 14 Kelsy Stireman, 5-7, Sr., Ogden, UT
     (3.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.0 apg)
C - 30 Mandy Little, 6-0, Sr., Independence, OR
     (5.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.5 apg)
F - 4 Kim Smith, 6-1, So., Mission, BC
     (17.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F - 45 Carley Marshall, 6-2, Sr., Eugene, OR
     (7.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg)
HEAD COACH: Elaine Elliott (Boise State, 1977)
UU RECORD: 416-172 (21st year) CAREER RECORD: Same

WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY WILDCATS (0-4; 0-0 Big Sky Conference)
G - 5 Kristen Hesselbach, 5-9, Sr., Littleton, CO
     (3.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.8 apg)
G - 13 Lindsey Hille, 5-8, Sr., Salt Lake City, UT
     (6.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F - 12 Julie Gjertsen, 5-10, Jr., Arvada, CO
     (17.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F - 34 Angela Sampson, 6-0, Sr., Port Orchard, WA
     (4.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.0 apg)
F - 42 Brooke Nelson, 6-2, Fr., Layton, UT
     (4.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.0 apg)
HEAD COACH: Carla Taylor (Weber State University, 1984)
WSU RECORD: 200-221 (16th year) CAREER RECORD: Same

THIS WEEK: The Gonzaga University women's basketball goes back on the road for the third-consecutive weekend, traveling to Utah for a pair of games. The Bulldogs first travel to No. 19 University of Utah on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., PST. where they will take on the Utes for the first time since 1997. Gonzaga then makes the trip to Weber State University on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m., PST. to redeem the 49-52 loss of last season.

THANKSGIVING IN SEATTLE: The Bulldogs headed west for the holiday as the Gonzaga University women's basketball team participated in the Seattle Times Classic, hosted by University of Washington. The Bulldogs lost their first game to Washington, 70-56, on Friday evening. Ashley Anderson led Gonzaga with 15 points, while freshman Rachel Kane followed with 12 points and four assists. The Bulldogs headed into the consolation game against Yale University on Saturday afternoon, but couldn't get the action started in the first half. At halftime, the score was tied 28-all, with Gonzaga shooting 20 percent from the field. Raeanna Jewell led the scoring charts with 16 points, with Kane again scoring 12. Anderson and Kane were voted to the All-Tournament team for their efforts.

TOURNAMENT DEJA VU: The Seattle Times Classic proved an instance of deja vu of the University of Iowa Hawkeye Challenge for the Gonzaga University women's basketball team as the Bulldogs were defeated in the first round by the eventual tournament winner, only to win the consolation game and claim third place. Another coincidence for Gonzaga fell with their opponents' nicknames, both being fellow Bulldogs. Gonzaga took on the Butler University Bulldogs at the Hawkeye Challenge hosted by the University of Iowa (Nov. 21-22) and then faced the Yale University Bulldogs at the Seattle Times Classic, hosted by University of Washington (Nov. 28-29). Gonzaga won both the dogfights and was designated as the visiting team in both games of the tournaments. Ashley Anderson was voted to the All-Tournament team in both tournaments as well.

SCOUTING THE NO. 19 UTES: Gonzaga University faces its second ranked opponent of the season as they travel to University of Utah on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. (PST). Utah claimed the championship at the Fresno State Classic last weekend, routing Western Kentucky 84-55 in the first round before defeating the host Bulldogs 66-53 in the championship game. Sophomore All-America candidate Kim Smith was named tournament MVP after averaging 20.5 points and 6.5 rebounds over the two games. Sophomores Shona Thorburn and Julie Wood were also named to the all-tournament team. Thorburn averaged 11.0 points, eight rebounds and 7.5 assists, while Wood averaged 14 points on 9-of-12 shooting, all from downtown. On the season, the Utes are led by Smith, who averages team-highs of 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds. Thorburn adds 15.0 points and 5.0 assists per game.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team continues its Utah road trip as they will take on Weber State University on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. (PST). Weber State hosts the Bulldogs after losing the first four games of the season, with one loss to fellow West Coast Conference member Saint Mary's College. The Wildcats lost both games of the Saint Mary's Tournament last weekend, with a 82-60 loss to University of Miami, and was defeated 55-44 by Saint Mary's. Weber State returns Co-Big Sky Player of the Year, junior guard Julie Gjertsen who averaged 16.3 points per game as a sophomore for the Wildcats.

ANDERSON VS. THE ALL-AMERICANS: Sophomore forward Ashley Anderson is proving her worth to the Gonzaga University women's basketball team as she defends against four All-Americans in the first six games of the season. The Enterprise, Ore., native defended the 2002-03 nation's leading scorer, Conference USA's Player of the Year, and All-American Chandi Jones of University of Houston, limiting her to 9 points in the first half. Anderson also took on Cathrine Kraayeveld of University of Oregon in the Bulldogs' home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Anderson kept Kraayeveld to seven total points on the game, and five rebounds. There is no rest for the weary, and Gonzaga headed to University of Washington for the Seattle Times Classic, when Anderson faced yet another All-American and 2003 Pacific-10 Player of the Year, Giuliana Mendiola. Coming up this week, the Bulldogs head to University of Utah, where Anderson will defend against All-American and Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, Kim Smith.

SUNSHINE IN SEATTLE: Freshman Rachel Kane brought the sunshine from her native Hawaii to the Seattle Times Classic in Seattle, Wash., on Nov. 28-29. The Kaneohe, Hawaii, native scored 12 points in both games of the weekend and leads the Bulldogs with 160 minutes on the court. Kane has established herself as the starting guard for Gonzaga, averaging 7.2 points per game, with 18 assists in her first five games. Kane has hit 6-16 three pointers, the highest average on the team at 0.375. The freshman is also 6-6 at the free throw line and 12-30 from the field. For her efforts, Kane was selected to the All-Tournament team.

HOME OPENER IN THE KENNEL: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team opened its home season as the Bulldogs lost to University of Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 73-57. Gonzaga was able to pace the No. 24 Ducks throughout the first half, with a 28-all tie at halftime, but Oregon took over in the second half, ending the game with an eight-point lead. Ashley Anderson, Anne Bailey and Ashley Burke each scored in double figures for the Bulldogs. Burke led the team, tying with Oregon's Andrea Bills with a game-high 16 points. Bailey came close to a double-double, falling short by one rebound with 15 points and nine rebounds.

ALL-TOURNAMENT SELECTIONS: Sophomore forward Ashley Anderson and freshman guard Rachel Kane were selected to the All-Tournament team of the Seattle Times Classic. This is Anderson's second All-Tournament selection of the season, and Kane's first All-Tournament selection of her career. Anderson scored 15 points against host University of Washington, and Kane penetrated both games with 12 points in each. Along with the Bulldogs, Erica Davis of Yale University, Andrea Lalum of Washington and Trisha Skibbe from Oklahoma State University each were voted to the select team. Giuliana Mendiola of Washington was named the Tournament MVP.

MATHEWS ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN: Junior guard Shannon Mathews continues to climb her way up the Gonzaga University record books in assists, three-pointers made and three-pointers attempted. Mathews is starting the season off on the right foot as the Riverside, Calif., native has surpassed the career assists record of current assistant coach Jennifer Mountain. Mountain held the sixth-place record with 269 assists in her four years as a Bulldog. Mathews is currently tied for fifth place with Jessica Malone (1998-2002) with 284 assists with five games of the 2003-04 season under her belt.

STARTING FRESH: Freshmen Rachel Kane, Stephanie Hawk and Katy Ridenour join the Bulldogs of Gonzaga University ready to make an impact on the program. Kane, a 5-7 guard from Kaneohe, HI, has established herself as a part of the starting five as the only freshman this season with that honor. Kane has averaged 7.2 points per game, with 4.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game so far this season. Ridenour, a 5-11 guard from Post Falls, Idaho, has been a critical player off the bench for the Bulldogs. Ridenour averages 1.2 points per game, with 2.0 rebounds per game. Hawk, a 6-3 forward from Ontario, OR, also serves up height off the bench for Gonzaga. As the second tallest woman on the team, Hawk looks make an impact on the Bulldogs' inside game averaging 2.5 points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game.

BULLDOGS SECOND IN WCC POLLS: The Gonzaga University women's basketball program was selected to finish second in the West Coast Conference preseason coaches poll released by the league office. The Bulldogs are coming off a 18-12 record, their best campaign since appearing in the 1994 Women's NIT with a 21-10 record. The Pepperdine University Waves lead the poll with Loyola Marymount University following behind the Bulldogs in third.

ZAGS TO BE BROADCAST ON FOX TV: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team will make its first appearance on FOX Sports as part of the 27-game 2003-04 schedule. The Bulldogs look to make its first commercial broadcast on FOX Sports regional TV from The Kennel in the last home game of the season against University of San Francisco on Feb. 15. This historic game also signifies the last women's basketball game to be played in The Kennel before play opens in the new Gonzaga arena, currently under construction and scheduled to open for 2004-05 season.

BULLDOGS INK TWO FOR 2004-05: The Gonzaga University women's basketball program announced on Nov. 12 that a pair of student-athletes, Elaina Renius and Sarah Schramm, have signed National Letters of Intent and will enroll at Gonzaga as freshmen in the fall of 2004. Renius, a 6-4 native of Grants Pass, Ore., enters her fourth year on the basketball squad at North Valley High School after leading the team to the Oregon state tournament the past two years. Schramm, a 6-0 forward from Chelan, Wash., will enter her fourth season of play at Chelan High School. Schramm averaged 18 points and 13 rebounds as a junior, leading her team to a Central Washington Athletic Conference Championship and Washington state semi-finals. For her efforts, she was named first team All-State for the second time.

GRAVES NAMED 2003 WCC COACH OF THE YEAR: The 2002-03 Gonzaga University women's basketball team (18-11, 9-5) continued its winning season with the selection of head coach Kelly Graves as the West Coast Conference Coach of The Year. Graves was named the Coach of the Year after guiding the Bulldogs to a second place tie with Santa Clara in the WCC standings. Graves led Gonzaga to an 18-11 mark after finishing eighth in the WCC during the 2001-02 season with an 11-18 record. He collected his 100th career-win on Mar. 1, 2003 as the Bulldogs defeated the San Diego Toreros 86-72. Graves becomes just the second Gonzaga head coach to win Coach of the Year, joining Julie Holt who captured the award in 1994.

LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University home matches as well as all West Coast Conference road matches will be available via Gametracker on the internet at http://www.gozags.com. Some non-conference matches may also be available. Check the Gonzaga web site for all Gametracker links.

Upcoming Events

Results

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus 5-seed Ole Miss on March 20, 2026 , Loss , 66, to, 81

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus WCC Championship Game vs. Oregon State on March 10, 2026 , Win , 76, to, 66

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus WCC Championships - Semifinal vs. Santa Clara on March 9, 2026 , Win , 88, to, 60

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Portland on February 28, 2026 , Loss , 91, to, 92 , OT

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Saint Mary's on February 26, 2026 , Win , 75, to, 67

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Pacific on February 21, 2026 , Win , 85, to, 70

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Washington State on February 19, 2026 , Win , 75, to, 50

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Loyola Marymount on February 14, 2026 , Loss , 63, to, 72

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