Dec. 27, 2009

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Five players scored in double-figures to pace the Gonzaga University women's basketball team to a lopsided 96-57 victory over UC Irvine at the McCarthey Athletic Center Sunday in front of a crowd of 2,733. Senior Vivian Frieson scored 25 points, one shy of tying her career high, and brought down 11 boards, for her second double-double of the season, to help improve the Bulldogs record to 10-4 on the season. The loss dropped the Anteaters record to 3-9 overall.

"I was really pleased with our performance today," stated head coach Kelly Graves. "I thought we played very well, despite having the past couple of days off. Irvine is a good basketball team. They played tough and were physical and scrappy."

Gonzaga shot a sizzling 55.3 percent (42-of-76) from the field, tying its second best shooting performance of the season, including an impressive 67.6 percent (25-of-37) in the second half. The Bulldogs were also 10-of-14 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe. The Zags held the Anteaters to just 36.5 percent (23-of-63) accuracy from the floor and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) at the free throw line.

The game was close for the majority of the first half until the Zags turned a slight 3-point edge at the 3:25 mark into a 13-point advantage with 1:57 left before intermission with a 10-0 spurt that included a 3-pointer by sophomore Kelly Bowen, two free throws by Frieson, an old fashion 3-point play by sophomore Katelan Redmon and a final jumper by Frieson.

Frieson gave Gonzaga its 43-31 halftime lead by hitting a jumper with three seconds left on the clock; to give her 17 points in the half.

"Viv was terrific today," stated Graves. "She has that type of night in her and is capable of going off any night and it was nice to see her get going in the first half."

The Bulldogs exploded in the second half, outscoring the Anteaters 31-9 over the first 10 minutes to take a commanding 34 point lead at 74-40. Eight players scored during this time for GU, including Frieson with eight points, senior Heather Bowman with seven and junior Janelle Bekkering with four.

Gonzaga continued to score points and claimed its largest lead of the game - 43 points - on two free throws by junior Claire Raap with one minute left to put the score at 96-53.

"In the second half we dialed it up defensively and got some steals which got us out into our transition," explained Graves. "We got back to the basics, which is defense, and that got us going."

The Bulldogs forced 11 turnovers in the final 20, was credited with 10 steals, scored 14 fast break points, after scoring just four in the opening half, and had 18 points off of turnovers.

Besides Frieson, who also had four assists, two blocks and two steals in 28 minutes of action, GU was led by Bowman who added 15 points, Redmon who chipped in 11 for her 13th straight double-figure contest, and Vandersloot and sophomore Kayla Standish who each had 10 points. Standish registered her first career double-double as she also grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.

The Zags held the 49-35 edge in rebounding, dished out 21 assists, only turned the ball over 15 times to the Anteaters 25 miscues and had the 17-7 advantage in steals.

UC Irvine was led by Jade Smith Williams with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists. Mikah Maly-Karros added nine points and 10 boards for the Anteaters.

Gonzaga returns to action Wednesday when it welcomes UC Santa Barbara to the McCarthey Athletic Center. Game time is set for 6 p.m.