Gonzaga University
22-6, 10-2WCC
Pepperdine
15-11, 8-4WCC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 31 | 31 | 62 |
| Pepperdine | 41 | 31 | 72 |
Bulldogs Fall On The Road To Pepperdine 72-62
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2009
MALIBU, Calif. - Despite another heart-pounding game, the Gonzaga University women's basketball team could not pull out its second-straight come-from-behind victory and dropped a 72-62 decision to Pepperdine University at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, Calif. Saturday.
The Bulldogs lost their second conference game for the first time in three years and are now stand 10-2 in West Coast Conference play and 22-6 overall. The Waves improved to 15-11 overall and 8-4 in conference.
Gonzaga was down double-digits at half for the second-straight contest. The Waves hit 14-of-35 from the field and sank 10-of-14 free throws to hold a 41-31 advantage. Pepperdine's Jazmine Jackson led the way with 10 points, making two baskets and hitting all six of her free throw attempts.
The Bulldogs Heather Bowman and Kayla Standish kept GU in the contest early scoring 14 and eight points, respectively.
Gonzaga could have been seven points closer has it not missed seven free throws. The Bulldogs uncharacteristically hit just 7-of-14 from the charity strip in the opening half. The Zags were also a bit sloppier with the ball than usual, turning it over 12 times, with the Waves making eight steals.
The Zags came out of the locker room with the same determination in their eyes that they had just two days earlier when they overcame a 15-point deficit to defeat Loyola Marymount University.
Despite being down 12, 54-44, with ten minutes to go in the contest, Gonzaga began to turn it on. The Bulldogs put together an 11-2 run to cut the Waves advantage to just three at 58-55 with 6:36 left in the game. Sophomore Janelle Bekkering capped off GU's run draining a three-pointer on an assist by Vandersloot.
Gonzaga had three opportunities to cut even closer into Pepperdine's lead but Vandersloot missed a jumper and Frieson missed a layup and jumper.
The Waves Miranda Ayim and Isabel Nakeya Isabell then put the dagger in the Zags heart as Ayim hit a jumper and Isabell drained a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to push their lead to eight with 3:36 left in the contest.
Gonzaga could not pull out a miracle in the final three minutes and dropped the 10-point decision to the Waves.
Bowman and Vandersloot led the way for Gonzaga, finishing with 22 and 19 points, respectively. Bowman also grabbed eight boards and Vandersloot dished out eight assists. Only four other players scored for the Zags, as Standish and Bekkering were the next highest with eight a piece.
Gonzaga turned the ball over 22 times with Pepperdine picking up 17 steals. The Waves held a slight 34-30 edge in rebounds and dished out 20 assists to the Zags 13.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs shot better than the Waves. Gonzaga finished the game hitting 46.0 percent (23-for-50) from the field, while Pepperdine was 45.8 percent (27-for-59).
Five Pepperdine players scored in double-figures, including Alex Jarrell who finished with a team-high 15. Nakeya Isabel added 14 points, four assists and a game-high seven rebounds.
Gonzaga now returns to the McCarthey Athletic Center for its final two WCC games of the season. The Bulldogs, who hold a one-game lead in the WCC standings, host Santa Clara University on Thursday, Feb. 26. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
