Box Score Jan. 21, 2006
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University overcame a 26 percent shooting effort in the first half to rally to for a 54-42 West Coast Conference win over the University of San Francisco on Saturday night at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs moved into sole possession of second place in the WCC standings improving to 9-12 overall, 4-2 in the WCC. San Francisco dropped to 6-12, 2-3 in the WCC.
San Francisco limited the Bulldogs offense to just 26 percent in the first 20 minutes as they pulled ahead by as many as nine points in the first half. Dominique Carter hit a jumper with 10:17 left to give the Dons a 17-8 lead and cap an 8-2 USF run. Danae Wellander had nine of her team-high 10 points for the Dons in the first half as they connected for 42 percent and held a 22-12 rebounding advantage. Dominique Harris and Ashley Anderson each scored six for Gonzaga in the opening half as the Bulldogs trailed 26-20.
Gonzaga's offense heated up in the second half as they hit 50 percent for the field as the Bulldogs opened the half with an 8-2 run to tie the game 28-28 at the 14:56 mark. Stephanie Hawk converted a lay-in on Gonzaga's next possession and GU took the lead for good with an 11-3 run. Hawk dropped in another lay-up to end the run as she was one of four Bulldogs to end the night in double-figures with 12 points. Hawk also added 9 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.
"We struggled to get our offense going in the first half," stated GU head coach Kelly Graves after the win. "I think we turned in one of best defensive halves of the season to close out the game. Dominique (Harris) and (Stephanie) Hawk really stepped it up in the final minutes of the game on the defensive end."
Gonzaga held USF to 20 percent shooting in the second half and 30 percent for the game. USF did win the battle on the boards with 39-35 advantage.
Anderson led all players with 14 points for Gonzaga with Harris and Katy Ridenour each adding 10. The Bulldogs host the University of Portland next Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. in their only contest of the week.
