Box Score Dec. 29, 2010
Box Score
SEATTLE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University women's basketball team dropped a 70-61 decision to No. 14/16 University of Notre Dame Wednesday afternoon at KeyArena in Seattle, Wash., in the first game of the Holiday Hoops Classic hosted by Seattle University. The Bulldogs, whose eight-game winning streak was snapped with the nine-point setback, fell to 10-4 with the loss, while the Fighting Irish improved to 10-3 with the victory, which was the first meeting between the two schools.
The game was decided in the final nine minutes of the contest. After the game saw 12 ties and 17 lead changes, the Fighting Irish outscored the Bulldogs 23-9 over those final crucial minutes.
Gonzaga was leading 51-47 after Zag junior Katelan Redmon drained a 3-pointer at the 11:10 mark. Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw called a timeout after the momentum shifting 3-pointer to settle her team. And in a flash, Notre Dame took the lead after a layup and 3-pointer by Skylar Diggins.
The lead changed four more times as both team took turns scoring a basket.
Notre Dame finally took the lead for good at the 7:59 mark on a layup by Natalie Novosel. Redmon had a chance to give Gonzaga back the edge, but her missed jumper turned into a 9-2 UND run that put the Bulldogs on their heels and gave the Fighting Irish the largest advantage of the game at 65-57.
Gonzaga did get within four points of the lead and had the ball and a chance to cut even more into it, but junior Kelly Bowen missed a 12-footer with 2:16 left on the clock and Diggins responded with a game-breaking 3-pointer.
The Bulldogs, who went into halftime with the 35-33 advantage, finished the game shooting 36.6 percent (26-of-71) from the floor, including just 28.2 percent (11-of-39) in the second half for their second lowest shooting outing of the season.
Three players scored in double-figures for GU. Junior Kayla Standish led the charge with a double-double of 16 points and 12 boards; while Redmon added 15 and senior Courtney Vandersloot had 10.
Notre Dame was led by Novosel who finished with a career and game-high 27 points. Diggins added 19 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists but did have eight of the teams 26 turnovers.
Gonzaga plays Seattle U in the final game of the Holiday Hoops Classic Thursday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
