Nov. 23, 2010

Box Score

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Katelan Redmon scored a career-high 28 points and Kayla Standish poured in eight of her 13 points in the second half to help the Gonzaga University women's basketball team defeat the University of North Dakota 83-45 Tuesday at the Sioux Center in Grand Folks, N.D.

"I am very pleased with our effort tonight," stated head coach Kelly Graves. "We played extremely hard and well, especially early. We set the tone right out of the gate; it was a very athletic game. Thought we turned the heat up, switched up our defenses, and were so dialed in. This is not an easy place to play, no question about that."

Gonzaga had four players score in double-figures. Along with Redmon and Standish, Janelle Bekkering added 11 points, nine on 3-pointers, and Courtney Vandersloot had 10 points. Vandersloot also had a season-high 12 assists, her third-straight double-digit assist contest.

Redmon, who hit 12-of-17 from the field and was 4-of-5 at the charity stripe, also brought down seven rebounds, had two assists and made one steal in 26 minutes of action.

"Redmon was terrific. She had one move where she got an and-one and it was probably the most athletic move I have seen in the women's game," Graves said. "All the way around; in transition, shooting and on the boards."

The game was close for the first two and a half minutes, but, with Gonzaga holding a slight 9-8 edge after a 3-pointer by North Dakota's Mallory Youngblut at 17:22, the Zags went on a tear. The Bulldogs offense exploded for 19 points and their defense held the Fighting Sioux without a field goal for nearly eight and a half minutes. UND's lone point during GU's run - which pushed its lead to 28-9, came on a free throw by Megan Lauck.

North Dakota finally hit a field goal at 8:48 on a jumper by Nicole Smart. Gonzaga continued to push its lead and gained a 20-point advantage, 42-21, on a 3-pointer by Janelle Bekkering at the 4:29 mark.

The Bulldogs, who had eight players score in the opening half, led 48-26 at halftime. The Zags shot lights out, hitting 54.3 percent from the floor (19-of-35) and 44.4 percent (4-of-9) on 3-pointers. North Dakota was held to 32.1 percent shooting from the field (9-of-28).

It was Standish who started the second half off on the right note for the Bulldogs, scoring six of their first 12 points, including a jumper at the 12:44 mark to put GU's lead at 30, 62-32.

"I thought for about an eight minute stretch in the second half Kayla was outstanding down low," explained Graves.

Chamay Mothershed, who didn't play in the first half, but started in the second for North Dakota, was the only player to score for the Fighting Sioux in the first eight minutes of the second half. She drained back-to-back 3-pointers for UND and hit one of two free throws.

Gonzaga's largest lead of the contest was 38 at 75-37 after two free throws by Vandersloot at 5:57.

North Dakota scored eight of its 19 second half points in the final 4:40 of the contest.

The Bulldogs finished the contest hitting 51.5 percent (34-of-66) from the field and was 83.3 percent (10-12) at the free throw line. Ten of the 11 Bulldogs who played scored at least two points.

North Dakota, who hit just five field goals in the second half, finished the contest at 24.5 percent (13-of-53).

Gonzaga now travels to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Showdown hosted by the University of Hawaii. The Bulldogs begin the tournament playing Ole Miss on Friday at 6:45 p.m. PT.

"I think we are going to go to Hawaii, compete and do our best," stated Graves. "Mississippi is a good basketball team, very athletic, well coached and work extremely hard. We are going to have to be at our best. "