PROVO, Utah – No. 13/14 Gonzaga suffered its first loss of conference play as it fell 70-68 at BYU Thursday evening at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
 
Gonzaga (16-2, 5-1 WCC) was led by Laura Stockton with 15 points, two assists and two steals while Zykera Rice added 13 points and a team-high six rebounds. The Bulldogs won the battle of the boards 32-30 and had an 11-7 advantage in second-chance points, but BYU (15-3, 7-0 WCC) was able to pull out the victory.
 
"BYU is a good team, and Provo is a tough place to play," head women's basketball coach Lisa Fortier said. "We made too many mistakes to beath them on the road tonight."
 
The Bulldogs' defense was suffocating in the opening period, forcing eight turnovers for eight points while outrebounding BYU 8-5. Gonzaga shot 50 percent in the opening quarter and claimed a 19-9 lead after the first 10 minutes. Laura Stockton had a huge opening period for the Zags, netting eight of her total 15 points.
 
Gonzaga continued its solid shooting from the floor in the second quarter as it shot 53.8 percent from the floor and stretched its lead to as many as 12, but the Cougars hit four threes to ignite a 25-point quarter. With 1:05 remaining, LeeAnne Wirth hit a jumper to give the Zags a five-point lead, but BYU finished on a 5-0 run to tie the game 34-all heading into the break.
 
In the third period, neither team led by more than four points with back-and-forth play. Gonzaga drew seven fouls on BYU and was able to get to the line 14 times, converting eight. With 2:07 remaining in the period, the Bulldogs trailed by four (50-46), but a huge three from Katie Campbell brought GU within one (50-49). The Zags scored three more unanswered to take a 52-50 lead heading into the final quarter.
 
BYU shot a stifling 70 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter, and a jumper from Brenna Chase with 4:53 to go would give the Cougars a one-point lead, 63-62. The Zags would come within one point three more times in the final period including a jumper from Stockton with 36 seconds remaining. The Cougars converted at the line and the Zags were unable to finish their last attempts to give BYU the 70-68 win.
 
BYU was led by Shaylee Gonzales with 17 points while Brenna Chase and Paisley Johnson rounded out the double-figure scoring with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Jasmine Moody led the Cougars with a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
The Bulldogs continue play at San Diego Saturday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. at Jenny Craig Pavilion.