Nov. 24, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

Game 5
Gonzaga
vs.
Mississippi
Friday, Nov. 26 - 6:45 p.m. PT
Stan Sheriff Center
Wakiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown
Hosted by the University of Hawai'i
Radio: 1050 The Key
Live stats available at GoZags.com

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (2-2, 0-0 West Coast)
F - 32 Kayla Standish, 6-3, Jr., Ellensburg, WA
(13.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.5 bpg)
F - 44 Kelly Bowen, 6-0, Jr., Victoria, Australia
(3.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.3 apg)
G - 11 Janelle Bekkering, 6-0, Sr., Taber, Alberta, Canada
(11.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 spg)
G - 21 Courtney Vandersloot, 5-8, Sr., Kent, WA
(17.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 9.5 apg, 3.3 spg )
G - 23 Katelan Redmon, 6-1, Jr., Spokane, WA
(20.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.3 apg)
HEAD COACH: Kelly Graves (University of New Mexico, 1988)
GONZAGA RECORD: 203-116 (11th year); CAREER RECORD: 269-142 (14th year)

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI REBELS (3-1, 0-0 SEC)
F - 15 Pa'Sonna Pope, 6-0, Fr., Cleveland, OH
(9.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)
F - 25 Courtney Marbra, 6-1, So., Jackson, MS
(5.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 spg)
G - 3 Valencia McFarland, 5-4, Fr., Edwards, MS
(15.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.8 apg)
G - 20 Kayla Melson, 5-8, Sr., Montgomery, AL
(13.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
G - 23 LaTosha Laws, 6-1, Jr., Memphis, TN
(10.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)
HEAD COACH: Renee Ladner (University of Mississippi, 1981)
OLE MISS RECORD: 51-47 (4th year); CAREER RECORD: Same

ON THE RADIO: Gonzaga University will have all regular-season games broadcast on the radio this season as Steve Myklebust returns for his sixth year of calling the action. Each game will be broadcast on either KGA 1050 The Key AM in Spokane with a pre-game show 30-minutes prior to tip and a 30-minute post-game show. Games will also be available on the internet at GoZags.com.

TWITTER: Yes, the Gonzaga University Bulldogs are on twitter! You can find us at www.twitter.com/GonzagaBulldogs. We provide inside scoop on all Bulldog athletics as well as in-game updates for all home and away women's basketball contests. CHECK US OUT! Do you want insight on Gonzaga University women's basketball straight from head coach Kelly Graves too? Now you can, check out Graves' twitter site at www.twitter.com/kgzag for everything Bulldog basketball and much, much more!

FACEBOOK: The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team is on Facebook. Search for Gonzaga University women's volleyball when signed into facebook and LIKE the page. Get inside scoop on the team, see photos from the season, read recaps of matches and watch video. ENJOY!

TALKING HOOPS WITH `SLOOT: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior point guard Courtney Vandersloot, from Kent, Wash., will be writing a season-long blog, giving Bulldog fans an in-depth and behind the scene look at the Zag basketball program. She will also does a sit-down video interview with select players throughout the year. Get ready for TALKING HOOPS WITH `SLOOT - find it at GoZags.com.

LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE: All home Gonzaga University women's basketball contests can be seen live on CBS College Sports all-access through GoZags.com. Check out the women's basketball schedule page for the link to the video broadcast. Gametracker is also available for all home games and can be accessed at GoZags.com.

TICKET INFORMATION: Single game tickets to Gonzaga University women's basketball can be purchased through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT (7328), TicketsWest.com, at any TicketsWest outlet, or at the McCarthey Athletic Center Ticket Office, Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Women's Basketball Ticket Prices are as follows: $8-Reserved, $5-General Admission Adult; $3-General Admission Child (12 and under), or Senior (65 and over); Gonzaga Students, Faculty & Staff are free with a valid Gonzaga ID.

SEASON TICKETS SOAR ABOVE 2,600: Gonzaga University women's basketball season tickets have hit a record-high 2,600 and counting. Season tickets are up nearly 700 from a season ago - the largest increase in school history. The Bulldogs average attendance for their 15 home games at the McCarthey Athletic Center last season was 2,931 which stood 44th in the NCAA for women's basketball attendance. Gonzaga has won 19-straight at the Kennel dating back to Feb 12, 2009.

TV GAMES: Gonzaga University women's basketball will have 11 games televised this season, including eight home contests. The following home games will be televised on SWX: Nov. 14 - Whitman, Nov. 21 - Stanford, Jan. 20 - Santa Clara, Jan. 22 - San Francisco, Feb. 4 - Portland, Feb. 10 -Loyola Marymount, Feb. 12 - Pepperdine, Feb. 24 - Saint Mary's, Feb. 26 - San Diego. SWX will also broadcast the Zags contest at Eastern Washington Dec. 3. The final two televised games of the season are Jan. 13 at Pepperdine and Jan. 27 at Saint Mary's - both on CBS College Sports.

RAINBOW WAHINE CLASSIC: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team makes their way to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Showdown at the University of Hawaii Friday-Sunday. The Zags start the Showdown off with a game against the University of Mississippi on Friday. Game time is set for 6:45 p.m. PT.

THE NORTH DAKOTA, HAWAI'I ROAD TRIP - SOUNDS SIMPLE RIGHT?: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team began its six-game road trip with a jaunt to Grand Forks, N.D. this past Monday. After the Bulldogs 83-45 victory, they packed their bags once again and hit the road, this time for Honolulu, Hawai'i. GU got on the bus at 5:15 a.m. Central Time Wednesday morning, flew from Grand Forks, N.D., to Minneapolis, Minn., and then took a flight to Salt Lake City. They then hurried to catch their connecting flight to Hawaii and arrived in sunny Honolulu at 3 p.m. Hawaiian time (7 p.m. Central). All in all, the Zags were on planes for 10 hours and the trip was about 14 hours total.

ABOUT OLE MISS: The University of Mississippi are 3-1 on the year and will open a four-game road trip this week, playing three games in Hawaii and one game at South Alabama. Ole Miss is led by Valencia McFarland who is averaging 15.3 points per game. Kayla Melson is second averaging 13.0 points per game while LaTosha Laws is third averaging 10.0 points per game. Nikki Byrd, Melson and Laws lead the team in rebounding, averaging 6.5 boards per game. As a team the Rebels are averaging 68.0 points per game while holding its opponents to 64.0 points per game. Mississippi's lone loss of the season was a 72-70 setback to the University of Arizona.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST THE REBELS: Gonzaga University leads the all-time series, 1-0. The only meeting between the Bulldogs and the Rebels came during the 1993 season with Gonzaga posting a 66-62 win in the BYU Holiday Classic in Provo, Utah.

WHAT WE LOST: Gonzaga University had arguably its best season in 2009-10 finishing with a school record 29 wins and only five losses and made it to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs did lose three BIG seniors to graduation last spring. GU lost the WCC and Gonzaga all-time leading scorer Heather Bowman; lost Vivian Frieson, the forward who hit the winning shot against Texas A&M University to send the Zags to the Sweet Sixteen and Tiffanie Shives, GU's sharpshooter who drained four-straight 3-pointers to help the Zags defeat UNC in the opening round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. All together, GU lost 45 percent of its scoring from a season ago.

WHAT WE RETURN: Despite losing three key seniors to graduation a season ago, the Gonzaga University women's basketball squad still returns a decent amount of ammunition. As a team, Gonzaga returns 55 percent of its scoring and 63 percent of its rebounding. The Bulldogs return five of its top eight scorers and their third, fourth and fifth top rebounders.

WHO IS BACK: Ten letterwinners are back from the Gonzaga University women's basketball team that went 29-5 a season ago. Headlining the group are seniors Courtney Vandersloot and Janelle Bekkering. Vandersloot, the back-to-back West Coast Conference Player of the Year, was the nations assist leader in 2009-10 at 9.4 per game and became the GU and WCC career assist leader (751) and the GU steals leader (252), while Bekkering played for the Canadian National Team this summer at the FIBA Word Championships for Women. The Zags also welcome back junior Katelan Redmon, the reigning WCC Newcomer of the Year, junior Kelly Bowen, junior Kayla Standish and senior Claire Raap - to name a few.

WOODEN AWARD WATCH LIST: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Courtney Vandersloot was named to the preseason Women's John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 30. The list is comprised of 30 student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are early frontrunners for the college basketball's most prestigious honor. Vandersloot becomes the second Bulldogs in school history to be nominated for the award in back-to-back seasons as she also made the list in 2009. Former Zag Heather Bowman is the only other player to make the prestigious list twice; earning the nod in 2008 and 2009.

WADE WATCH LIST: Women's basketball senior Courtney Vandersloot has been named to the prestigious 2010-11 preseason "Wade Watch" list for The State Farm Wade Trophy Division I Player of the Year. Vandersloot, who become the first Bulldog to be named to the list in 2009-10, is just one of six this season to become two-time "Wade Watchers". The 25-member list is made up of top NCAA Division I student-athletes who best embody the spirit of Lily Margaret Wade according to the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on the team and overall playing ability.

NAISMITH PRESEASON LIST: Gonzaga University women's basketball player Courtney Vandersloot has been named to the Naismith Trophy preseason watch list. The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2010-11 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy, presented by AT&T, will be awarded on April 4, 2011 at the NCAA Women's Final Four in Indianapolis.

NOW RECEIVING VOTES IN BOTH POLL: The Gonzaga University womne's basketball team fell out of the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25 poll after starting the year No. 22. The Bulldogs are still receving votes in the Coaches and the Associated Press Top 25. The Zags received three votes in the Coaches poll and sixth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25.

OPPONENTS IN THE TOP 25: Gonzaga University women's basketball 2010-11 opponents Stanford University, Notre Dame University and the University of North Carolina are all ranked in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Top 25 polls. Stanford is ranked second in the Coaches Poll and third in the Associated Press; Notre Dame is 16th the Coaches Poll and 18th in AP poll, while North Carolina is ranked 14th in the Associated Press Preseason Poll and 15th in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. The Bulldogs played Stanford Nov. 21 (L, 84-78), match-up with Notre Dame Dec. 29 at KeyArena in Seattle and could possibly play North Carolina at the Rainbow Wahine Tournament.

BULLDOGS PICKED FIRST IN WCC: Gonzaga University was chosen as the favorite to claim the West Coast Conference women's basketball title for the third straight year in the 2010-11 preseason coaches poll. The Bulldogs, who received the maximum seven first place votes for a total of 49 points, won the 2010 WCC Zappos.com Championship, earned their third-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to their first-ever Sweet Sixteen appearance. As a No. 7 seed, Gonzaga upended No. 10 seeded North Carolina in the first round 82-76, upset No. 2 Texas A&M 72-71 in the second round, before falling to No. 3 seeded- Xavier 74-56 in the regional semifinal.

LARGEST SCORING MARGIN IN SCHOOL HISTORY: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team defeated Whitman College Nov. 14 by the score of 114-40. The 74-point victory was the Bulldogs largest margin of victory in school history. The previous best was 57 when Gonzaga defeated Eastern Oregon University 101-44 - exactly two years ago (Nov. 14, 2008).

VANDERSLOOT, REDMON (KATELAN) AND BEKKERING AMONG TOP WCC RETURNEES: Heading the group of Gonzaga University that were tabbed as preseason All-West Coast Conference are seniors Courtney Vandersloot and Janelle Bekkering and junior Katelan Redmon. Vandersloot is the two-time WCC Player of the Year and Tournament Most Valuable Player; Bekkering was named WCC All-Academic a season ago and Redmon is the reigning WCC Newcomer of the Year.

LOOKING FOR ITS SEVENTH IN A ROW: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team is looking to capture its seventh-straight West Coast Conference regular season title in 2010-11. The Bulldogs have won the regular season title starting in 2004-05. The Zags tied for the title in 2005-06, but won it outright the five other years. In those six seasons, Gonzaga has gone 77-7 in conference and has had two perfect 14-0 seasons (2004-05 and 2009-10).

GONZAGA TO HOST 2011 AND 2012 NCAA FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS: Gonzaga University was one of 16 institutions selected to host the first-and-second rounds of the 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament as announced by the NCAA. The Bulldogs, who are also hosting the first-and-second rounds for the first-time this season, will host the opening weekend action at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The first and second rounds of this year's NCAA Tournament, set for the Kennel, are Saturday , March 19 and Monday, March 21. If Gonzaga earns a bid to the NCAA Tournament, it automatically will be seeded to play at the MAC.

WHAT A SUMMER!: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Janelle Bekkering was named to the 2010 Canadian Senior Women's National Team (SWNT) this summer. The forward/guard, who helped the 2009 SWNT squad qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championships for Women by placing third at the FIBA Americas Championships for Women last September, was one of 12 to make this year's team. Bekkering and Team Canada traveled and played in France and Greece before making their way to the Czech Republic for the FIBA World Championships. She played in six of the seven games for Canada, who finished 12th, scoring a team-high eight points in their setback to Team USA in the second round.

SAME LAST NAME, SAME HOMETOWN BUT NOT RELATED: When you look at the Gonzaga University women's basketball roster you will see two players with the last name Redmon, who are both also from Spokane, Wash. You may think they are related but they are not. Junior Katelan Redmon played high school ball at Lewis & Clark, while freshman Jazmine Redmon was a soccer and basketball star at Mead High School.

WHO ARE THE NEW FACES I SEE?: The Gonzaga University women's basketball squad has five new faces this season. The Bulldogs welcomed freshman center Stephanie Golden, freshman guard Jazmine Redmon, freshman guard Danielle Walter, Oregon State University transfer Haiden Palmer, who will redshirt this season, and redshirt-sophomore Molly Anderson to the team.

SOFTBALL TO BASKETBALL: Walk-on Molly Anderson, a redshirt-sophomore, transferred to Gonzaga University in 2009-10. Anderson attended Indiana University her freshman season (2008-09) and was a catcher for the Hoosier softball squad. She walked on to the women's basketball team last season and redshirted. This is her first year in uniform for the Bulldogs.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Gonzaga University women's basketball player Courtney Vandersloot registered her 19th career double-double against the University of North Dakota, Nov. 23rd.The point guard, who has three double-doubles so far this sesaon, dished out a season-high 12 assists and scored 10 points against the Fighting Sioux. Her other two double-doubles this season were a 17 point, 10 assist game against Whitman, Nov. 14 and a 24 point and 10 assist peformance against No. 3 Cardinal. She has now also registered double-figure assists 24 times.

CAREER-HIGH NIGHT FOR RED: Gonzaga University women's basketball junior Katelan Redmon had a career-high night against the University of North Dakota, Nov. 23 The guard from Spokane, Wash., scored a career-high 28 points, besting her previous career-high by six points. She hit an impressive 12-of-17 from the field and sank 4-of-5 free throws. Redmon has scored in double figures in all four Zags contests this season, including two 20-plus point contents.

WEST COAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gonzaga University women's basketball junior guard Katelan Redmon was named the West Coast Conference women's basketball Player of the Week Nov. 15 after she helped the Bulldogs to a 1-1 record in their opening weekend of play.
Redmon averaged 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists and shot a blistering 76.2 percent (16-of-21) from the floor during the first two games for Gonzaga. She scored 17 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists and had two steals in the Zags tough 79-73 season-opening setback to Pacific-10 Conference member USC Friday. The Spokane native then turned around two days later and scored a game-high 22 points, hitting 10-of-11 from the field, had eight boards, four assists in 21 minutes of action in GU's 114-40 win over Whitman College. The 74-point victory was the largest margin of victory in school history. This is the first WCC Player of the Week honor for Redmon.

THE BABIES HAVE ARRIVED: If you remember the end of last season, two Gonzaga University women's basketball assistant coaches were pregnant, one that was days away from giving birth when the Zags played in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen. Well the two assistant coaches have since become moms. Lisa Mispley Fortier, who was nearly nine months pregnant when GU lost to Xavier to end its remarkable tournament run, gave birth to Marcus William in early April. Jodie Kaczor Berry welcomed a son nearly four months later. Tyson Jon was arrived in the world in August.

BULLDOGS SIGN FIVE: Gonzaga University women's basketball head coach Kelly Graves announced the signing of five players to national letters of intent. Joining the Bulldogs next fall is Keani Albanez, a 5-10 guard from Buena High School in Ventura, Calif., Shelby Cheslek, a 6-5 post from Pullman High School in Pullman, Wash., Shaniqua Nilles, a 6-0 small forward from West Valley High School in Spokane, Maiki Viela, a 5-6 point guard from Lahainaluna High School in Lahaina, Hawaii and Sonja Greinacher, a 6-4 post from Essen, Germany.

DID YOU KNOW?: Did you know that junior Katelan Redmon, assistant coach Michelle Elliott and director of operations Molly Hays each have a twin? Redmon's twin brother's name is Kyle, Elliott's twin sister is Nicole and Hays' twin sister is Mandy. Hays also has older twin sisters named Kelly and Kristy. Head coach Kelly Graves is also married to a twin. Mary Graves twin brother Bill Winter is the head men's golf coach at the University of Portland.

SENIOR CLASS AWARD NOMINEE: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Courtney Vandersloot was selected as one of 30 candidates on Wednesday for the 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for women's basketball. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.