Dec. 23, 2005

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Four Gonzaga University players scored in double figures on Friday afternoon as the Bulldogs (4-9) headed into the holiday break with a 68-53 win over San Jose State University (3-6). The win ended a four-game skid for Gonzaga and avenged a 69-61 season opening loss to the Spartans in San Jose.

Jami Bjorklund and Katy Ridenour were both 4-for-4 from the floor in the opening half as the Bulldogs built a 21 point lead over the Spartans hitting 61 percent from the floor and 71 percent from 3-point range. Ridenour converted a three point play at 13:25 and followed with a driving lay-up 15-seconds later to give Gonzaga an early 14-4 lead. Another three play by Ridenour and a lay-up by Bjorklund pushed Gonzaga's advantage to 21 with 5:42 remaining in the half.

Gonzaga would score only three more points for the half on free throws as San Jose State was able to trim the lead to 39-24 at the break. Lamisha Augustine had six points in the late Spartan run and assisted on a 3-pointer by Alisha Hicks as San Jose ended the half on a 9-3 run. Augustine had 10 first half points as SJSU shot 44 percent from the floor.

Ridenour again answered for the Bulldogs in the second half as her 3-pointer with 16:59 remaining ended the long drought. The junior guard would finish with 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting including 2-for-2 from 3-point range. Bjorklund led all players with 17 hitting 6-of-8 and 2-of-3 from 3-point land. Gonzaga ended the game shooting 56 percent from the floor and 60 percent from 3-point range. Gonzaga struggled from the charity stripe hitting only 18-of-37 free throws for 48 percent.

Following Ridenour's 3-pointer, San Jose State turned up the pressure closing to within 7 points as Myosha Barnes drained a 3-pointer with 4:52 left. Barnes would sink a pair of free throws with 2:55 left to put the Spartans within 9 points at 56-47. Brittany Imaku hit another pair of free throws at 2:05 to trim Gonzaga's lead to 9 points, but San Jose State would get no closer. Stephanie Hawk hit back-to-back lay-ups to secure the win for Gonzaga.

Hawk finished with 10 points while Anne Bailey just missed a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Augustine was limited to just two second half points to lead San Jose State with 12. Amber Jackson added 9 for the Spartans.

Gonzaga returns to action on Dec. 30 with a game at Utah Valley State College. The Bulldogs next home game will be on Jan. 2 against Portland State University as the Bulldogs wind down non-conference play.