Box Score

Jan. 8, 2004

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga women's basketball crushed the defending West Coast Conference champion in a easy 31-point defeat over Pepperdine University on Thursday evening in The Kennel. The Bulldogs ended an eight-year streak by the Waves, with the last Gonzaga win coming in 1995.

The Bulldogs (8-6) featured five players in double figures with junior forward Ashley Burke leading the offensive charge with 17 points. Junior Shannon Mathews and sophomore Ashley Anderson each chipped in 13 points and junior Raeanna Jewell added 10. Freshman Rachel Kane earned her double figure with 10 rebounds, the most in her career, and eight points.

The Waves (6-8) were held to one player with 10 points as Kelli Spencer came off the bench to lead the team in scoring, all of her points in the second half. Nicole Funn and Shandrika Lee each added seven points to the Pepperdine effort.

The game remained even for the first seven minutes of play, but Gonzaga quickly took over the scoreboards. Burke hit a three-pointer with 7:10 left in the first half with the score at 25-19, and started a 21-1 run to end the first half 46-20. The Bulldogs hit four of their seven three-pointers in the first half, and dominated the defensive angle with only four turnovers to the Waves' eleven. Burke scored 15 points in the first half, with Jewell following closely behind with eight for the 26-point advantage.

The second half split wide open for the Bulldogs, jumping to a 37-point lead with 13:27 to go in the second half. Gonzaga held the pace, never allowing the lead to diminish under 27 points. Mathews controlled the floor with two three-pointers, six points and four rebounds in the second half.

Gonzaga owned the net shooting 43.9 percent (29-for-66), while Pepperdine struggled with 25 percent (16-for-64). The Bulldogs outplayed the Waves with a 9-to-17 turnover ratio and ended with 12 steals compared to Pepperdine's four.

Gonzaga returns to The Kennel on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. to face Loyola Marymount University in West Coast Conference play.