Dec. 30, 2009

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - There couldn't have been a better way to end the year 2009 for the Gonzaga University women's basketball team as it claimed a dominant 88-52 victory over visiting UC Santa Barbara Wednesday evening at the McCarthey Athletic Center to close out its non-conference slate. The Bulldogs had five players score in double-figures for the second-straight contest and hit a season-high 10 3-pointers to improve their record to 11-4 on the year. The Gauchos, reigning Big West Conference champions, dropped to 3-9 overall.

"Santa Barbara's record is not indicative of the team we played tonight," said head coach Kelly Graves. "We obviously took them out of what they wanted to do. They're a good team and I wouldn't be surprised if they win the Big West again this season."

The Bulldogs had another impressive shooting night, hitting 50.7 percent (37-of-73) from the field, including 45.5 percent (10-of-23) from beyond the 3-point arc. It was the first time Gonzaga hit the double-digit mark in 3-pointers in 70 games, dating back to Dec. 29, 2007 when it drained 12 in a victory over Eastern Washington University. The Zags even tied their previous season-high of 3-pointers after the first 20 minutes, finishing the first half hitting 8-of-15.

"We were pretty good tonight," stated Graves after the Zags second straight 30-plus point victory. "We were making perimeter shots tonight, which have been our nemesis all season long. We really put it together tonight. "

Senior Tiffanie Shives and junior Courtney Vandersloot were the leading sharpshooters for the Zags as Shives, who came into the game hitting 4-of-25 over the past seven games, broke out of her shooting slump, draining 5-of-7, tying her single-game career high. Vandersloot nailed three 3-pointers, while sophomores Kayla Standish and Kelly Bowen both tallied one.

"It was great to see Tiff and Court have such good shooting nights," explained Graves. "They are both tremendous shooters and showed what offensive threats they can be."

Gonzaga was clicking from the get-go, building a double-digit lead five minutes into the contest by hitting six of its opening 11 shots to hold the 14-3 advantage at 15:50. The Bulldogs went on to force the Gauchos to turn the ball over 10 times in the first 10 minutes and, with their defensive pressure, UCSB hit just 4-of-15 from the field as the GU ran out to a 29-10 lead.

The Zags pushed their lead above 20 when Vandersloot hit a 3-pointer on a pass by Shives to put the score at 37-17 with 6:49 left before intermission. Shives then followed with back-to-back 3-pointers as GU went on to close out the half with a 16-4 run, including scoring the final 10, to hold the huge 53-21 lead.

The Gauchos hit just eight total field goals in the first half, the same amount of total 3-pointers the Bulldogs hit in the opening frame, and turned the ball over 16 times. GU closed out the half hitting 22-of-40 from the field, with 15 assists and eight steals.

Gonzaga continued to roll in the second half, securing its largest lead of the contest - 47 points - on a Meghan Winters jumper at the 7:51 mark.

All 15 players saw action for GU, with 10 of the 15 scoring.

Shives and Vandersloot led the team in scoring with 17 points apiece. Vandersloot registered her sixth-double-double as she also handed out 12 assists. Senior Vivian Frieson was one rebound shy of her second-straight double-double, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds, along with three blocks, two steals and two assists.

Senior Heather Bowman added 10 points and sophomore Kayla Standish chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, four blocks and three assists.

UC Santa Barbara was led by Chris Spencer, who came off the bench to score 11 points.

Gonzaga now has nine days to prepare for its West Coast Conference opener. The Bulldogs open league lay on Saturday, Jan. 9 by welcoming the University of Portland to the McCarthey Athletic Center. Game time is set for 2 p.m.