March 21, 2005

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Gonzaga University women's basketball magical season came to a halt on Monday night as the Bulldogs (28-4) ran into a hot shooting Southwest Missouri State University (22-8) squad that connected on 58 percent from 3-point range during a 85-66 win at the Hammons Student Center during second round action of the Sportsview.TV Women's NIT. The loss ended the collegiate careers of GU seniors Ashley Burke, Raeanna Jewell, Delphine Lecoultre and Shannon Mathews. Those four players helped to lay the foundation for women's basketball at Gonzaga as the Bulldogs established several school and West Coast Conference records this season.

The game opened with a balanced attack on both ends of the floor as GU and SMS brought contrasting styles of play onto the floor. The Bulldogs rely on their play in the low post as Stephanie Hawk finished with 16 and Anne Bailey added 12 as Gonzaga scored 30 points in the paint. SMS entered the game as one of the nation's top 3-point shooting teams and connected on 11-for-19 during the game as guards Jenni Lingor (22), Nicole Lehman (11) and Kari Koch (16) all reached double-figures.

SMS led at 44-36 at halftime taking advantage of one of the Bulldogs strengths, getting to the free throw line. The Lady Bears were 11-of-14 in the first half compared to only 3-of-5 for Gonzaga, the eight free throws being the difference in the score as both teams had 14 first-half field goals and 5 first-half 3-pointers. Gonzaga held a two rebound advantage but turned the ball over 10 times compared to just once by SMS.

The Lady Bears continued to work from the outside in the second half as they moved the ball around to create open 3-point shots. Lehman knocked down a pair of open jumpers from the corner to start a run that had SMS up by as many as 20 points with 10:26 remaining. Bailey and Hawk then went to work down low but GU could never get closer than 14 points over the remainder of the game as Raeanna Jewell hit a 3-pointer with 4:27 left. Jewell would finish with 13 points before fouling out with 2:01 left.

"SMS did a good job of making that one extra pass to get good shots tonight," stated Bulldogs head coach Kelly Graves. "We play different styles of basketball and tonight their style was a little better. I am really proud of this group of players, they have helped us create a program that is only going to get better. I think people in Spokane will remember this group of seniors and what they have done in much the same way Gonzaga fans remember those players on the men's team that made the Elite Eight."

Burke, Jewell and Mathews all conclude their careers having played in the most games by a GU player with all three ranking among the Top 10 for scoring with more than 1,000 points each.