Nov. 30, 2004

Final Stats

CHENEY, Wash. - Shannon Mathews scored 13 of her game-high 18 points in the second half as she became the 10th Gonzaga University player to score 1,000 career points during the Bulldogs Tuesday night win over Eastern Washington University (1-3).

Mathews helped spark a 21-2 run to start the second-half as the Bulldogs (3-1) pulled away for a 72-51 victory. Mathews was 5-for-7 including 3-for-5 from 3-point range in the second half as Gonzaga shot 71 percent from behind the 3-point arc to break open a 23-23 halftime score. Mathews 18 points moved her to the 1,000 point mark for her career while her four assists in the game moved her to with 11 of becoming the Bulldogs career leader in that category.

"We were able to get into our offensive sets in the second-half and I think that really changed the pace of the game," said GU head coach Kelly Graves following the win. "We let Eastern Washington dictate the tempo in the first-half and we just couldn't find a rhythm to get our team going. In the second half Shannon and Raeanna hit some big shots that got us off and running."

Raeanna Jewell was also a factor for the Bulldogs scoring five early points after halftime that helped Gonzaga spread the floor and run their offense. Jewell would finish with nine points while senior forward Ashley Burke had 12 points including 10 in the first-half that kept the Bulldogs in the game.

Eastern Washington was able to force 10 first-half Gonzaga turnovers and limit Gonzaga to only 25 percent shooting as they knotted the score at 23 at the half. GU had pushed the early lead out to as high as six points with a 19-13 lead. Burke was a factor in the paint drawing four fouls and connecting on 8-of-8 at the free throw line.

The Bulldogs offense improved in the second half as they shot 56 percent from the floor. Gonzaga's biggest offensive weapon on the night was their ability to get to the charity stripe. GU shot 25 free throws in the second half hitting 18 of them. Katy Ridenour and Anne Bailey were each a perfect 4-for-4 from the line in the second half.

Gonzaga's defense once again put up a solid showing as the Bulldogs limited Eastern Washington to 34 percent shooting for the game. This marks the third time this season that Gonzaga has kept an opponent below 35 percent for a game. Ashley Knight scored a team-high 12 points for the Eagles with six of the points coming in mop up time at the end of the game.

GU returns to action this weekend as they face the University of Nevada on Friday night in the opening round of the Arizona State University Holiday Classic.