HTML BOX SCORE
MALIBU, Calif. - The Gonzaga women's basketball team remained unbeaten in West Coast Conference play after a 78-56 victory at Pepperdine Saturday. After other WCC results, the Bulldogs are one win away from their 11th consecutive conference title.
The Zags (21-4, 14-0 West Coast Conference) used a solid start to the second half to ease away from Pepperdine. Gonzaga made 10 of its 14 shots from the field during a 10-minute span midway through the second half. During that time, the Bulldogs outscored Pepperdine, 26-13. GU shot 53 percent from the field in the second half.
Gonzaga matched the fifth-longest win streak in program history at 15. It's also the seventh longest active streak in NCAA Div. I women's basketball. The Zags remain atop the WCC standings with their unblemished conference record.
Keani Albanez had her fifth career 20-point game. The senior scored a game-high 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field. She moved to fourth all-time at Gonzaga in three-pointers made in a career. She made 4-of-8 Saturday, and has 149 made three-pointers in her GU career. Albanez added a game-high five assists, six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
Sunny Greinacher added 12 points, while Elle Tinkle and Lindsay Sherbert both had 10. Shelby Cheslek grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.
As a team, the Bulldogs made 47.5 percent of their shots from the field, including 10-of-23 from behind-the-arc. Gonzaga has made 33 three-pointers in the last three games. GU was also 10-for-14 from the free-throw line.
The Zags never trailed in the game, and led by as many as 26 late in the game. Gonzaga led 33-27 at halftime, and the Waves closed the gap to four just into the second half. But, Pepperdine would come no closer.
Gonzaga had a 41-27 advantage in rebounds. The Bulldogs forced 17 turnovers, and had a 29-16 edge in points off of turnovers. GU committed 15 turnovers, with only four in the second half. It improved to 15-0 when its bench outscores the opponents' bench, as it had a 28-11 advantage Saturday.
Keitra Wallace led Pepperdine (7-19, 2-13 WCC) with 19 points and five rebounds. Ea Shoushtari chipped in 11 points. The Waves shot 40.7 percent from the field, 2-of-7 from behind-the-arc, and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line.
The Bulldogs return home for a pivotal game Thursday against Saint Mary's (18-7, 11-3). Gonzaga can clinch the West Coast Conference regular season title with a win over the Gaels. The Zags won the first meeting the season, 52-42, in Moraga, Calif., on Jan. 22. Thursday's tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and will have live video and stats on GoZags.com. Live radio will be available on The Key 1050 AM.
