GAME NO. 13/AWAY GAME NO. 5/WCC GAME NO. 1
Gonzaga Bulldogs (10-2, 0-0 WCC) at Portland Pilots (7-7, 0-0 WCC)
Thursday, Dec. 29 - 7 p.m.
Portland, Ore. - Chiles Center (4,852)
(Radio: 1050 The Key; Live stats and free video streaming links found at GoZags.com)

No. 24 GONZAGA UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (10-2, 0-0 WCC)
F - 32 Kayla Standish, 6-3, Sr., Ellensburg, WA
(15.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.9 spg)
F - 44 Kelly Bowen, 6-0, Sr., Victoria, Australia
(10.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.7 spg)
G - 3 Haiden Palmer, 5-8, RS-So., Moreno Valley, CA
(13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.8 spg)
G - 12 Taelor Karr, 5-8, Jr., Paola, KS
(7.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.4 apg)
G - 23 Katelan Redmon, 6-1, Sr., Spokane, WA
(13.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.4 apg )
HEAD COACH: Kelly Graves (University of New Mexico, 1988)
GONZAGA RECORD: 242-121 (12th year); CAREER RECORD: 308-147 (14th year)

UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND PILOTS (7-7, 0-0 WCC)
F - 3 Natalie Day, 6-0, Sr., Germantown, MD
(18.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.9 spg)
F - 33 Amy Pupa, 6-1, So., Ventura, CA
(3.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.3 apg)
G - 10 ReZina TecleMariam, 5-8, Sr., Puyallup, WA
(10.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.1 apg)
G - 15 Alexis Byrd, 5-10, So., Las Vegas, NV
(7.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.9 apg)
G - 22 Cassandra Brown, 6-2, So., Vernon, B.C.
(7.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.9 spg)
HEAD COACH: Jim Sollars (Seattle Pacific University, 1966)
PORTLAND RECORD: 358-382 (26th year); CAREER RECORD: 535-464 (36th year)

Gonzaga vs. Portland quick hits
*64th meeting between Gonzaga and Portland.
* Gonzaga has won 21 of the last 22 meetings between the two schools.
*Gonzaga won all three games a season ago: a 81-55 win at Portland to open the 2010-11 WCC season; a 87-67 victory at the McCarthey Athletic Center and a 96-71 win in the semifinals of the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas.
*Gonzaga last lost to Portland at the Chiles Center on Jan. 21, 2001 by the score of 52-40.
*Gonzaga head coach Kelly Graves was an assistant coach at the University of Portland, under Jim Sollars, from 1993-97.
*Portland went 90-29 in the four years Kelly Graves was an assistant with the Pilots, 45-11 in West Coast Conference action and played in the NCAA Tournament each year.
*Portland junior ReZina TecleMariam is the twin sister of former Gonzaga player Ariam TecleMariam. Ariam TecleMariam played for the Bulldogs from 2008-10.

ON THE RADIO: Gonzaga University will have all regular-season games broadcast on the radio this season as Steve Myklebust returns for his seventh 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.

GRAVES' WEEKLY RADIO SHOW: Gonzaga University women's basketball head coach Kelly Graves has his own radio show in 2011-12. Graves' second show of the new season is set for Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 5:30-6 p.m. on 1510 KGA AM. Listen in to get all the inside scoop on every Gonzaga women's basketball!

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!

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER: If you don't know, the Gonzaga University women's basketball program is on Facebook and Twitter! You can get an inside look into the Bulldogs program with 'Picture-A-Day' and videos, and always find out the up-to-date news. Become a fan of the Zags on Facebook by and follow the Zags on twitter at www.twitter.com/ZagWBB.

LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE: All home Gonzaga University women's basketball contests can be seen live on the Zags Sports Channel all-access through GoZags.com. Check out the women's basketball schedule page for the link to the video broadcast. Live stats are 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: Single-game ticket prices are $8 for Reserved Adult, $5 for Reserved Children (12 and under) and Seniors (65 and over). Group tickets are also available for groups of 20 or more at $3 per ticket. Season tickets are still on sale and can be purchased for just $85.

SEASON TICKETS OFFICIALLY HIT 4,000: Gonzaga University women's basketball season tickets have hit a record-high 4,000 and counting. Season tickets are up nearly 1,250 from a season ago - the largest increase in school history. The Bulldogs hit a then-record high of 2,756 season-tickets in 2010-11 and averaged 4,060 for their 16 home games which stood 25th in the NCAA for women's basketball attendance. Gonzaga has won 14-straight at the McCarthey Athletic Center and only lost once in the past two seasons.

TV GAMES: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team will have eight of its 15 home games in 2011-12 televised locally on SWX. The televised season will begin immediately with the Bulldogs season-opener Friday against Hofstra University. Two other non-conference games will be televised; the Zags game against Pacific-12 Conference member USC, who is currently ranked No. 23 in both the Associated Press and USA Today ESPN Coaches Top 25 polls, on Sunday, Dec. 4 and GU's game against the University of Montana on Sunday, Dec. 11. Both games are set to begin at 2 p.m. The five other home games featured on SWX this season are West Coast Conference games, starting with its WCC home-opener against the University of San Francisco Thursday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. Other games are: Saturday, Jan. 14 versus Saint Mary's College at 2 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 4 against the University of San Diego at 2 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 16 versus Santa Clara University at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 25 against BYU at 2 p.m.

ZAGS BEGIN QUEST FOR EIGHTH-STRAIGHT WCC TITLE THURSDAY: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team begins West Coast Conference action Thursday at the University of Portland. Game time is set for 7 p.m. The Bulldogs are looking to win their eighth-straight WCC regular-season crown.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND: The University of Portland currently holds a 7-7 overall mark on the year and has won the last two games. The Pilots are led by both Natalie Day and ReZina TecleMariam. Day is averaging a team-best 18.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while TecleMariam is averaging 10.9 points and a team-best 5.1 assists per game. Day also was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week for the first three weeks of the basketball season. Portland is coached by Jim Sollars, in his 26th year at the helm.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST THE PILOTS: This will be 64th meeting between Gonzaga University and the University of Portland, with the Bulldogs leading the all-time series 36-27 and have won 21 of the last 22. Gonzaga won all three games a season ago: a 81-55 win at Portland to open the 2010-11 WCC season; a 87-67 victory at the McCarthey Athletic Center and a 96-71 win in the semifinals of the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas.

BULLDOGS PICKED FIRST IN WEST COAST CONFERENCE: Gonzaga University was chosen as the favorite to claim the West Coast Conference women's basketball title by the coaches for the fourth-straight year in the 2011-12 preseason poll. The Bulldogs, who received the maximum eight first place votes for a total of 64 points, have won the WCC regular season title for an unprecedented seven-straight years.

LOOKING FOR ITS EIGHTH IN A ROW: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team is looking to capture its eighth-straight West Coast Conference regular season title in 2011-12. 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 six other years. In those six seasons, Gonzaga has gone 91-7 in conference and has had three perfect 14-0 seasons (2004-05, 2009-10, 2010-11).

REDMON (KATELAN) AND STANDISH AMONG TOP WCC RETURNEES: Heading the group of Gonzaga University that were tabbed as preseason All-West Coast Conference are seniors Katelan Redmon and Kayla Standish. Both Redmon and Standish earned All-West Coast Conference honors in 2010-11 and Standish was named to the WCC All-Tournament squad.

LOWEST SCORING OUTPUT SINCE 2009-10 SEASON: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team dropped a 58-51 decision to the University of Southern California, Dec. 4. The 51 points scored by the Bulldogs was their lowest scoring output since Dec. 12, 2009 when they scored 49 points in a 70-49 loss to Baylor University.

RARE LOSS AT THE McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team was handed a rare loss at home when the University of Southern California earned the 58-51 victory at the McCarthey Athletic Center, Dec. 4. Not only did it snap a 14-game home winning streak for the Bulldogs it was also only the second home loss in 32 games, spanning the 2009-10 season when they went undefeated, the 2010-11 season when their only loss was to Stanford University and three-games into this year.

SEVENTH, EIGHTH & NINTH LARGEST CROWDS: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team had 5,548 fans show up to watch it take on the University of Southern California, Dec. 4. It was the seventh-largest crowd in school history and biggest thus far this season. Five days later 5,376 fans were in attendance to watch the Bulldogs defeat Eastern Washington University, Dec. 9. It was the then-eighth largest crowd in school history. Two days after defeating Eastern Washington, Gonzaga had 5,433 fans in the stands to see it defeat the University of Montana 70-54. That crowd is now the eighth largest in school history, bumping the 5,376 in attendance for EWU to ninth.

STANDISH HAS THREE DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Kayla Standish recorded her first two double-doubles in back-to-back games. She closed out the Bulldogs 73-60 win at Cal State Fullerton with a game and season-high 26 points - 20 of which she scored in the second half - and 11 boards. Standish then scored 11 points and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds in the Zags seven-point setback to USC. Her third double-double came in GU's in over the University of Montana, Dec. 11. Standish finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Overall, she has 16 career double-doubles; two as a sophomore and 11 as a junior and three so far this season.

FOUR PLAYERS AVERAGING DOUBLE-FIGURES FOR ZAGS: Currently four players on the Gonzaga University women's basketball are averaging double-figure points; three of which are seniors. Senior Kayla Standish is leading the charge at 15.8 points per game. Senior Katelan Redmon is second at 13.5 points per game, followed by redshirt sophomore Haiden Palmer at 13.2 points per game. Senior Kelly Bowen rounds out the four at 10.0 points per game.

THIRD IN-SEASON WIN OVER RANKED OPPONENT: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team stunned the No. 12/13 University of Georgia with a 71-68 victory Monday in Las Vegas at the Holiday Hoops Classic. Redshirt sophomore Haiden Palmer scored 22 points for Gonzaga, including the last second game-winning 3-pointer. The victory was the third in school history over a ranked opponent in the regular season; having beaten No. 21 UCLA 62-57 on Nov. 24, 2006 at the Rainbow Wahine Classic and No. 15 University of Virginia 69-62 on Nov. 30, 2008 at the WBCA Classic .

KATELAN REDMON HELD UNDER 10 POINTS FOUR TIMES THIS SEASON: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Katelan Redmon, who is third on the team in points at 11.2 per game, has been held under 10 points four times this season - which is two more overall than she did total a season ago. Redmon scored five points only at Stanford University and at Cal State Fullerton and finished with just four in GU's loss to USC and had nine in a win over Montana. The two games she didn't break double-figures last year were versus the Titans at the McCarthey Athletic Center and against Loyola Marymount University.

FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR BOWEN SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Kelly Bowen registered her second-ever career double-double in the Bulldogs loss to the University of Southern California, Dec. 4. Bowen finished with a team-high 15 points and brought down 10 boards in the seven-point loss to the Trojans. Her only other double-double came her freshman year when she scored a career-high 17 points and had 10 rebounds at Saint Mary's College Jan. 29, 2009. It was also only her fourth career double-digit rebounding performances - her three others also coming freshman year.

STANDISH JOINS THE 600 REBOUND CLUB: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Kayla Standish became the 12th player in school history to grab 600 rebounds in their career. The forward hit exactly 600 when she tallied 13 rebounds in the Zags 58-51 loss to the University of Southern California, Dec. 4. Standish, who has 637 total rebounds in her career to stand 10th in the Bulldogs all-time list. She is now just the eighth player in school history to score 1,000-plus points and bring down 600-plus boards.

KARR PASSES OUT CAREER-HIGH EIGHT ASSISTS: Gonzaga University women's basketball junior Taelor Karr, who transferred from Kansas State University this summer and was immediately eligible, dished out a career-high eight assists in the Bulldogs 91-42 victory at the University of Idaho, Nov. 17. Karr's previous career-high heading into her first season in a Zag uniform was seven handed out in KSU's game against Iowa State University, Feb. 26, 2011. The eight assists is also a Zag high this season. Karr leads the team in assists at 4.4 per game.

COACH GRAVES GETS CAREER VICTORY NUMBER 300: Gonzaga University women's basketball head coach Kelly Graves had racked up a 299-146 career Division I record in his 14 years as a head coach prior to the Bulldogs game at the University of Idaho, Nov. 17. Gonzaga defeated the Vandals 91-42 to earn Graves his 300th-victory. He is now 308-147 as a Division I head coach.

GONZAGA SHARING THE BALL: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team passed out 28 assists in its victory over the University of Idaho, Nov. 17 and followed that up with 29 assists in its win over Portland State University, Nov. 27. The 29 assists are the most dimes for the Bulldogs since they also had 29 against Idaho last season on Dec. 17. In their win over the Vikings, the Bulldogs had 10 players with at least one assist in the victory. Sophomore Jazmine Redmon and junior Taelor Karr led the way with six assists each.

REDMON HITS 1,000 POINTS: Katelan Redmon became the 18th player in Gonzaga University women's basketball history to score 1,000 points in a Zag uniform during the Zags win over Portland State University, Nov. 27. Redmon hit the exclusive mark when she hit a layup with 7:27 left in the first half. She closed out the game with a season-high 22 points. Redmon has now scored 1,117 points at Gonzaga.

CAREER HIGH FOR THREE PLAYERS: Three Gonzaga University women's basketball players secured personal career highs in the Bulldogs victory over Portland State University, Nov. 27. Sophomore Stephanie Golden recorded her first career double-digit point contest, finishing the game with 10 points, besting her previous career-high by one point. Freshmen Keani Albanez and Sunny Greinacher each hit double-figures as Albanez tallied 12 and Greinacher had 10.

GONZAGA DRAINS NINE THREE-POINTERS TWICE: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team sank nine 3-points in its 91-42 victory over the University of Idaho, Nov. 17 and in its 70-54 win over the Univeristy of Montana, Dec. 11. The nine 3-pointers were the most made by the Bulldogs since they hit 12 in their victory over North Carolina Central in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown on Nov. 27, 2010. This time around, redshirt-sophomore Haiden Palmer led the charge hitting 4-of-8 from downtown.

RECEIVING VOTES IN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team continues to receive votes in the Associated Press Top 25. The Bulldogs, who ended last season ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press final poll, received 28 votes this week to be the first team 'also receiving votes'.

BULLDOGS NO. 24 IN COACHES' TOP 25: The Gonzaga University women's basketball stood pat at No. 24 in the USA Today ESPN Coaches Top 25 Tuesday. The Bulldogs received 74 votes this week.

STANDISH IS ON NAISMITH PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Kayla Standish has been named to the Naismith Trophy preseason watch list, announced Wednesday. She is the third player in Gonzaga school history to be named to the prestigious list as Heather Bowman and Courtney Vandersloot made the list during their tenure.

KACZOR BERRY ONE OF TOP 25 ASSISTANTS: CollegeInsider.com recently put together a Top 25 Mid-Major Women's College Basketball Assistants. Gonzaga University assistant Jodie Kaczor Berry made the list at No. 4. It states 'Kaczor Berry has helped guided Gonzaga to new heights, as the Bulldogs have made three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances since she was promoted as top assistant in 2008. The Bulldogs' amazing run of success includes winning 36-straight West Coast Conference games, making their first-ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2010 and their inaugural appearance in the Elite Eight in 2011.

WHAT WE LOST: Gonzaga University had arguably its best season in 2010-11, finishing with a school record 31 wins and only five losses and made it to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs did lose five BIG seniors to graduation last spring. GU lost consensus All-American and 3-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year Courtney Vandersloot; guard Janelle Bekkering, who left Gonzaga scoring 1,050 points; forward Claire Raap; back-up point guard Tatriana Lorenzo and fan favorite Carter Schick. Altogether, GU lost 43.7 percent of its scoring from the team that lead the nation in points a season ago.

WHAT WE RETURN: Despite losing five seniors to graduation, including two starters from a season ago, the Gonzaga University women's basketball squad still returns a decent amount of ammunition. As a team, Gonzaga returns 56 percent of its scoring and 73 percent of its rebounding. The Bulldogs return four of its top seven scorers and its top three rebounders.

TWO RETURNING REDSHIRTS: The Gonzaga University women's basketball teams returns to redshirts to its 2011-12 squad. Sophomore guard Haiden Palmer sat out last year after transferring from Oregon State University, while freshman guard Danielle Walter returns after medically redshirting her first year on campus. Palmer played and stared in all 31 games as a freshman on the Oregon State University women's basketball team, averaging 10.8 points per contest; second best on the squad. For her efforts at OSU she was named to the Pacific-10 Conference All-Freshman team. Walter was rated the No. 73 prospect in the ESPN HoopGurlz Hundred and No. 22 in her position as a senior in high school in 2009-10.

KARR IMMEDIATELY ELIGIBLE: Gonzaga University women's basketball junior guard Taelor Karr, who transferred from Kansas State University this summer, is eligible to play this season as determined by the NCAA. Karr and Kansas State parted ways after her sophomore season. She played in all 32 games for the Wildcats in 2010-11, including getting the starting nod 29 times. Karr played 33.3 minutes per game and averaged 10.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals.

WHO ARE THE NEW FACES I SEE?: The Gonzaga University women's basketball squad has six freshman on the squad this year. The newcomers are: 5-6 point guard Maiki Viela, a 2011 Parade All-American out of Hawaii; 6-5 center Shelby Cheslek, who along with her basketball accolades in high school was the State 2A Most Valuable Player in volleyball in 2009 and 2010; Sonja Greinacher, the Bulldogs 6-4 German who goes by Sunny; Keani Albanez a guard from Santa Barbara who led her high school to the CIF Division II So Cal Regional finals; Shaniqua Nilles a 6-0 from Spokane who battled Cheslek on the basketball and volleyball courts in high school; and Megan Benedict, a walk-on from Lebanon, Ore.

REDMON AND STANDISH REPRESENT THE USA IN PAN AMERICAN GAMES: Gonzaga University women's basketball seniors Katelan Redmon and Kayla Standish were both named to the 2011 USA Basketball Women's Pan American Games Team The 12-member team featured 11 college athletes and one high school senior and compete Oct. 21-25 in Guadalajara, Mexico, at the 2011 Pan American Games. The United State placed seventh at the Pan American Games after going 2-2 overall. For the tournament, Redmon averaged 20.8 minutes, 6.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steal while shooting 39.2 percent (11-of-28) from the field. For the tournament, Standish averaged 12.5 minutes, 2.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 block per contest and hit 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from the field.

GONZAGA TO HOST 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 will host the opening weekend action at the McCarthey Athletic Center. If Gonzaga earns a bid to the NCAA Tournament, it automatically will be seeded to play at the MAC.

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 then walked on to the women's basketball team two seasons ago.

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. Senior Katelan Redmon played high school ball at Lewis & Clark, while sophomore Jazmine Redmon was a soccer and basketball star at Mead High School.

TINKLE, KUDRON, WATERS SIGN WITH BULLDOGS: Gonzaga University women's basketball head coach Kelly Graves has announced the signing of three players to national letters of intent. Joining the Bulldogs next fall is Elle Tinkle, a 6-2 guard from Big Sky high school in Missoula, Mont., Kiara Kudron, a 6-2 forward from Huron high school in New Boston, Michigan, and Chelsea Waters, a 6-1 guard/forward from Lewiston high school in Lewiston, Idaho. Collegiate Girls Basketball Report has Graves' 2012-13 recruiting class ranked 42nd.