Gonzaga University
(1-1)
Whitman
(0-1)
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHITMAN MISSIONARIES | 22 | 18 | 40 |
| GONZAGA BULLDOGS | 63 | 51 | 114 |
Women's Basketball Rebounds; Defeats Whitman 114-40
11/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2010
SPOKANE, Wash. - Katelan Redmon made 10 of 11 shots in the game, grabbed eight rebounds, handed out four assists and scored 22 points to lead No. 22 Gonzaga University women's basketball to a 114-40 home-opening win over Whitman College on Sunday night in front of 2,989 fans at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
The 74-point win is the largest margin of victory in Bulldog history. The previous best was 57 when Gonzaga defeated Eastern Oregon 101-44 - exactly two years ago (Nov. 14, 2008).
The Bulldogs had four players score in double figures. Along with Redmon, Courtney Vandersloot scored 19; Kayla Standish added 15 and Janelle Bekkering contributed 12.
Jenele Peterson led Whitman with 10 points. Anna Forge added seven and Jennifer Keyes had five.
"We needed a little confidence boost today. We obviously got it," Gonzaga head coach Kelly Graves said. "I liked our intensity early, especially defensively. We got out and go after them early, and then knocked down a few perimeter shots. One game too late, but it was nice to see us kind of get back up on the horse and go for a ride."
The Bulldogs started fast, building an 18-0 lead 16:02 into the contest. Four of the five starters scored in the opening run and Vandersloot, who was the lone starter to not score, handed out three assists.
Whitman didn't get on the board until the 15:27 mark when Peterson sank one of two free throws. The Missionaries first field goal came a minute later on a Sarah Anderegg jumper to put the score at 24-3.
Gonzaga, who had nine players score in the opening half, three in double-figures, led 63-22 at halftime. The Bulldogs shot lights out, hitting 61.9 percent from the floor (26-of-42) and 57.1 percent (4-of-7) on 3-pointers.
The second half was more of the same as the Bulldogs steadily pushed the lead to 60 nearly six minutes into the half, and took a game-high 75 point lead at 114-39 when Carter Schick sank two free throws with 1:40 remaining in the contest.
Whitman was held to four points in the first 10 minutes of the second half and Peterson scored nine of her team-high 10 points in the final 13 minutes.
The Bulldogs finished the second half sinking 57.1 percent (20-of-35) from the field. All 13 suited up Zags played in the final half, with 12 scoring at least one point in the contest.
"I thought a lot different people contributed today," explained Graves. "The first unit played well together the entire game, certainly for the first several minutes of the game and for the first several minutes of the second half when they were in together. We kind of dropped off intensity wise after we subbed in the first half, but then that group came back in and I thought as a unit they played really well together."
Vandersloot who registered her first double-double of her senior season, adding 11 assists to her 17 points, seemed to shake off her tough performance against USC Friday.
"Courtney needed this. It was a great game for her to get out and create," stated Graves. "It was nice to see and she did it in very few minutes."
Standish also had a double-double in the game, adding a game-high 11 boards to her 15 points. She also blocked three shots.
Fan favorite Schick finished with a career-high six points and redshirt sophomore Molly Anderson and freshman Stephanie Golden each score their first collegiate points. Anderson had two points and Golden finished with six, along with four steals.
Gonzaga's inside game held the 68-12 advantage in points in the paint and 27-2 edge in second-chance points and the Bulldogs held the 55-30 rebounding advantage.
GU did allow Whitman 18 offensive boards, which concerns Graves.
"We better block out better. We gave up 18 offensive rebounds tonight to a team that is not that big," Graves said. "If we don't do a better job blocking out Stanford on Sunday it's going to be a long night for the Zags."
Gonzaga's attention does now turn to its contest with Stanford. The Bulldogs will host the 2010 NCAA Tournament runners-up Sunday in the McCarthey Athletic Center. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
