Gonzaga University
13-4, 1-0WCC
Portland
7-8, 0-1WCC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 28 | 32 | 60 |
| Portland | 20 | 29 | 49 |
Bulldog Use Late Run To Win WCC Opener
1/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Gonzaga University women's basketball team began its quest for a fifth-straight West Coast Conference title with a 60-49 victory over the University of Portland at the Chiles Center in Portland, Ore., Saturday. The Bulldogs used a late 15-5 run to win their sixth-straight WCC opener and 16th-straight over the Pilots.
Gonzaga improved to 13-4 overall and 1-0 in conference, while Portland dropped its overall record to 7-8 on the season and 0-1 in the WCC.
The tandem of Heather Bowman and Courtney Vandersloot propelled the Zags to their hard fought 11-point victory. Vandersloot finished with a game-high 19 points and nine assists, along with seven boards, while Bowman chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds.
The game came down to the final 13:01 of the contest. With Gonzaga holding a 14 points advantage at 45-31, Portland strung together a 13-0 run to close within a jumper of taking the lead at 45-44. The Bulldogs battled off five Pilot possessions, including two missed jumpers, two missed free throws and a turnover, and then scored six-straight to finally put the game out of UP's reach.
Vandersloot was the catalyst during this time for the Bulldogs, making a crucial steal and layup, followed by two free throws to finally give the Zags some breathing room at 49-44. Ultimately, Vandersloot scored eight of her 19 points after Portland cut Gonzaga's lead to one.
Vivian Frieson was also a key to the Zags securing their first WCC victory, grabbing five of her game-high 13 boards over the final 9:31. Frieson also sank two free throws and converted a three-point play to turn a one-point lead into a 10-point advantage.
The Bulldogs were a bit sluggish in the first half, leading only 28-20 going into intermission. The Zags hit a solid 40.0 percent (12-of-30) from the field, but were sloppy with the ball, turning it over 14 times, only two off their game average. Portland capitalized on Gonzaga's miscues, scoring eight points on its 11 steals.
It seemed like the Zags would run away with the game early on though, building a 12 point advantage after holding the Pilots to just four points and 2-of-14 shooting over the first 10 minutes of the contest. Portland's Allyson Sievers hit a jumper to cut Gonzaga's early lead to 4-2 but the Pilots would not score again until the 10:36 mark when Tara Cronin drove the lane and scored on a layup to put the score at 16-4.
A 6-0 run by Portland cut Gonzaga's advantage to single-digits at 19-12 with 7:40 remaining before halftime. Two free throws by Cronin started the Pilot run, followed by back-to-back layups by Alexis Gannis and Cronin.
Gonzaga responded with a jumper by Bowman and a layup by Frieson to regain a double-digit lead at 23-12, but it was short lived, as Portland strung together an 8-2 run get within five points of the Bulldogs lead.
A three-pointer by Kayla Standish lifted Gonzaga to its eight point advantage at half.
Gonzaga finished the game shooting 38.6 percent (22-of-57) from the floor, including 40.0 percent (4-of-10) from behind the three-point arc, and was a sizzling 85.7 percent (12-of-14) at the charity stripe. The Zags held a 40-33 advantage on the boards, but turned the ball over 23 times.
Portland was led by Laiken Dollente who had 15 points, four steals and three assists.
Gonzaga returns to action Thursday, Jan. 15 when it plays at Santa Clara University against former Zag assistant coach and current Bronco head coach Jennifer Mountain. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on CBS College Sports.
