Dec. 1, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

GAME NO. 8
Gonzaga
at
Eastern Washington
Friday, Dec. 3 - 7 p.m.
Reese Court (5,000) - Cheney, Wash.
TV: SWX (John Fritz & Stephanie Hawk)
Radio: 1050 The Key
Live stats/Live video links: GoZags.com

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (4-3, 0-0 West Coast)
F - 32 Kayla Standish, 6-3, Jr., Ellensburg, WA
(12.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.1 bpg)
F - 44 Kelly Bowen, 6-0, Jr., Victoria, Australia
(3.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.4 apg)
G - 11 Janelle Bekkering, 6-0, Sr., Taber, Alberta, Canada
(9.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 spg)
G - 21 Courtney Vandersloot, 5-8, Sr., Kent, WA
(16.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 9.6 apg, 3.1 spg )
G - 23 Katelan Redmon, 6-1, Jr., Spokane, WA
(18.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.7 apg)
HEAD COACH: Kelly Graves (University of New Mexico, 1988)
GONZAGA RECORD: 205-117 (11th year); CAREER RECORD: 271-143 (14th year)

EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY EAGLES (1-5, 0-0 Big Sky)
F - 21 Carrie Ojeda, 6-1, So., Tacoma, WA
(3.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.8 bpg)
F - 42 Julie Piper, 6-1, Sr., Roseburg, OR
(11.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 spg)
G - 5 Chene Cooper, 5-0, Jr., Puyallup, WA
(9.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.3 apg)
G - 13 Kayla Evans, 5-11, Sr., Brewster, WA
(6.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.2 apg)
G - 22 Brianne Ryan, 6-0, Jr., Lynden, WA
(11.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 apg)
HEAD COACH: Wendy Schuller (Fresno Pacific, 1992)
EWU RECORD: 114-150 (10th year); CAREER RECORD: Same

GAME NO. 9 - at University of Montana
Sunday, Dec. 5 - 1 p.m. PT
Dahlberg Arena (7,200) - Missoula, MT
Radio: AM 1050 The Key; Live Stats & Live Video links: GoZags.com

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA LADY GRIZ (2-4, 0-0 Big Sky)
F - 00 Alyssa Smith, 6-0, So., Monroe, WA
(8.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.2 apg)
F - 14 Sarah Ena, 5-11, Sr., Kenmore, WA
(6.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 spg)
F - 22 Katie Baker, 6-0, So., Coeur d'Alene, ID
(10.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.2 apg)
G - 2 Torry Hill, 5-7, Fr., Anaconda, MT
(6.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.7 apg)
G - 30 Stephanie Stender, 5-11, Sr., Sheridan, WY
(7.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 spg)
HEAD COACH: Robin Selvig (University of Montana, 1974)
MONT RECORD: 742-222 (33rd 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.

CLOSING OUT SIX-GAME ROAD SWING: Gonzaga University women's basketball closes out its six-game road swing with two contests against Big Sky Conference opponents. The Bulldogs play at Eastern Washington University who were picked to finish second in the Big Sky Conference, Friday at 7 p.m. The Zags then make the trek to Missoula, Mont., for their game against the University of Montana, picked to finish first in the Big Sky, on Sunday. That game is set for 1 p.m. PT.

SCOUTING EASTERN WASHINGTON: Eastern Washington University women's basketball is currently 1-5 on the year, having lost five straight after opening the season with a 80-70 win over Cal State Fullerton. The Eagles are led by Julie Piper and Brianne Ryan who are averaging 11.7 points and 11.0 points per game. Piper is also averaging 6.5 boards per contest and Ryan is averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST THE EAGLES: Gonzaga University defeated Eastern Washington in its last meeting 87-61 at the McCarthey Athletic Center Dec. 1, 2010. The Bulldogs, who have won six-straight over the Eagles, last played at Reese Court in Cheney, Wash., on Dec. 4 2008 when they took a 71-56 decision. Gonzaga leads the all-time series 24-13.

SCOUTING MONTANA: The University of Montana hold a 2-4 record on the year and have lost two-straight, including a 76-69 overtime loss to James Madison University at the Caribbean Challenge in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The Lady Griz are led by Katie Baker who is averaging 10.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST THE LADY GRIZ: Gonzaga University defeated the University Montana 75-48 at the McCarthey Athletic Center last season. Senior Courtney Vandersloot and junior Katelan Redmon each scored 13 points in the Bulldog win. The last time the Zags play at Dahlberg Arena they snapped the Lady Griz' 21-game home-court winning streak. GU took a 69-63 victory over UM on Dec. 19, 2008. Vandersloot, who was then a sophomore, had 22 points and eight assists in the contest, while Kelly Bowen, then a freshman, grabbed 10 rebounds. Montana holds the 17-10 lead in the all-time series but Gonzaga has won the last three.

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.

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.

NCAA ASSIST LEADER: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Courtney Vandersloot, the nations assist leader in 2009-10, is currently leading the nation in assists again this season. The point guard is averaging 9.6 assists per game. Emiko Smith, of the University of Denver, is second at 7.0 assists per contest.

SIXTH IN DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Courtney Vandersloot is sixth in the NCAA statistics for double-doubles. She has registered four so far this season (points/assists). Tierney Jenkins, of the University of Alabama, has the most double-doubles so far this season, registering seven.

WHERE WE STAND IN OTHER NCAA STATS: As a team, the Gonzaga University women's basketball team is 12th in the nation in assists per game (19.1), and 25th in both scoring (80.1) and scoring margin (20.4).

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 20th career double-double against North Carolina Central University Nov. 27. The point guard, who has four double-doubles to her credit this season, dished out a season-high 13 assists and scored 22 points. Her other three double-doubles this season were a 17 point, 10 assist game against Whitman, Nov. 14; a 24 point and 10 assist peformance against No. 3 Stanford University and a 10 point, 12 assist game at the University of North Dakota. She has now also registered double-figure assists 25 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 seven Zags contests this season, including three 20-plus point contents.

ALL-TOURNAMENT: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Courtney Vandersloot was named to the Waikiki Marriott Beach Resort Rainbow Wahine Showdown All-Tournament squad. The point guard, who led her team to a 2-1 record at the tournament, averaged 14.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 3.0 steals per game, and shot 48.6 percent from the floor. She scored in double-figures in all three contests, including 22 points against North Carolina Central.

TWELVE 3-POINTERS: After hitting just three 3-pointers in its setback to the University of Mississippi Nov. 26, the Gonzaga University women's basketball sank a season-high 12 to rebound with a 94-52 victory over North Carolina Central University on the second day of the Waikiki Beach Resort Rainbow Wahine Showdown. The 12 3-pointers is the most 3-pointers made since the Zags hit 13-of-29 in their 91-77 victory at Loyola Marymount University on Jan. 23, 2010.

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.

WEST COAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Nov. 15 - Katelan Redmon, Gonzaga