March 7, 2004

Box Score

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Gonzaga University women's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss as they were defeated 61-58 by Loyola Marymount University in the West Coast Conference Championship game on Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs appeared in their first championship game since 1994, in which they lost to University of Portland, 73-65.

Gonzaga (18-11, 10-4 WCC) was led by All-Tournament selection Ashley Burke with 18 points, followed by junior Shannon Mathews with 17 points. Sophomore Anne Bailey hit her first double-double of the season with 10 points, 10 rebounds and sophomore Ashley Anderson grabbed 11 boards with her eight points.

Loyola Marymount (24-5, 13-1 WCC) was led by All-Tournament selection Kate Murray with 19 points, along with tournament MVP Adrianne Slaughter with 14 points. Rachael Ziemann chipped in 10 points for the Lions.

Gonzaga made a strong start, forcing a shot clock violation on Loyola Marymount's first possession and grabbing the first five points of the game. The Lions fought back, claiming the 24-14 lead with the help of a 14-3 run with 7:53 on the clock. Then the Bulldogs had their turn, looking to Burke as she scored seven straight points for Gonzaga to cut the lead in half, 26-21, with 5:39 left. The Bulldogs kept chipping away at the Lions' lead, and ended the half tied at 30-all with the help of three unanswered free throws from Anderson and two from Bailey in the last 1:03 of the half.

Gonzaga went only 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from the field compared to LMU's 50 percent (11-for-22) from the field. The Bulldogs shot 75 percent (9-for-12) from the charity stripe and had 16 rebounds. The Lions had seven turnovers, only forcing three from Gonzaga, and 17 rebounds.

LMU came out with seven straight points to start the second half, but Gonzaga held tough, forcing four turnovers by the 14:16 mark. Mathews made three from the line for the Bulldogs to bring the game within three, 45-42, with 11:49 on the clock. Mathews hit Gonzaga's next five points.

The Lions regained a five-point lead before the game suffered a 3:43 drought of scoreless play. Burke came up strong for the Bulldogs, scoring both of her free throws. Slaughter sank her shot for LMU, but Burke came back with a 3-pointer to bring Gonzaga within two at 60-68 with 22 seconds. Murray missed her first free throw for the Lions, then sank her second shot to put LMU ahead for the eventual score, 61-58, with 17 seconds remaining. Despite final attempts for Gonzaga, the Bulldogs weren't able to put a shot up and left the court as the second-place team in the WCC.

"We weren't as dominant inside and a lot of that you have to give credit to Slaughter. She makes you think and intimidates you," said head coach Kelly Graves. "We played hard, but timely turnovers down the stretch may have cost us."

Gonzaga shot only 31.5 percent (17-for-54) from the field during the game, but outrebounded LMU, 38-32.

"We are hopeful that our season isn't over," said Graves. "An NIT berth would give this team a great amount of experience that would prepare us for next season. Our team will be back in this position again."

The selection for the NIT will be held on Sunday, March 14.