GONZAGA (19-2, 8-1 WCC) at PACIFIC (13-6, 6-3 WCC)
JAN. 31 | 7 P.M. | STOCKTON, CALIF. | ALEX G. SPANOS CENTER
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THE TIP-OFF
- Gonzaga and Pacific meet for the 16th time in program history and the seventh time in Stockton. The meeting will be the second between the two programs this month. Gonzaga won the first meeting 88-65 in Spokane on Jan. 5, extending its win streak in the series to five games.
- The Bulldogs are currently on a three-game win streak, and they have won the last three games by an average of 23.0 points. The Zags also claim the longest win streak of the season in the WCC, boasting a 12-game win streak from Nov. 23 through Jan. 12. No. 25 BYU is challenging that streak as the Cougars currently carry an 11-game win streak.
- Prior to Gonzaga's 70-68 loss at BYU on Jan. 17, the Zags has posted a program-best 16-1 start. However, the current 19-2 mark is only the second of program history. The Bulldogs were also 19-2 during the 2004-05 season. That season, the Zags posted a program-best 23-game win streak and finished the season 28-4 overall with an unblemished 14-0 mark in WCC play. Gonzaga advanced to the second round of the WNIT, losing at Missouri State 85-66 to end the season.
- The Bulldogs currently lead the WCC in seven categories: Scoring defense (58.1 ppg), scoring margin (+16.5, 22nd nationally), field goal percentage defense (37.7%), 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.3%), rebounding defense (30.4 rpg), rebounding margin (+7.7) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2). The Zags also rank second in seven categories: scoring offense (74.6), free throw percentage (76.3%), field goal percentage (45.5%), 3-point field goal percentage (37.4%), steals per game (9.5), turnover margin (+3.4) and defensive rebounding percentage (72.3%).
- Gonzaga is ranked for the ninth-straight week after entering the polls at No. 24/22 on Dec. 3. Following their 97-71 win over Portland on Jan. 12, the Bulldogs moved up to 13th in the AP Poll on Jan. 14. It's the program's highest ranking ever; currently Gonzaga is ranked No. 15 following a 78-51 win over San Francisco (Jan. 24) and a 78-61 win over Santa Clara (Jan. 26).
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: 16th meeting, Gonzaga leads 10-5
In Spokane: 4-3| In Stockton: 4-2| Neutral: 2-0
Current Streak: Gonzaga, Won 5
Last Meeting: Gonzaga defeated Pacific 88-65 in Spokane on Jan. 5
Series Notes: Gonzaga and Pacific meet for the 16th time in program history on Thursday evening in Stockton, and it will be the 13th meeting between the two programs as WCC members.
- Throughout the series, the Bulldogs have not allowed Pacific to win more than two games in a row. The Tigers won two-straight between the 1999-00 season and 2001-02 season and again won two-straight in 2016 and 2017. The Zags current five-game win streak is their longest of the relatively young series.
- Throughout the series, Gonzaga has averaged 78.1 points per contest while limiting Pacific to 69.5 points per game.
- Two of GU's five losses to Pacific have been overtime losses: an 86-85 overtime loss on Nov. 24, 2001 in Spokane and an 84-83 overtime loss in Stockton on Feb. 20, 2016. Additionally, all but three of GU's wins over the Tigers have been by double-digits including six wins by at least 15 points.
 
SCOUTING PACIFIC:
- The Tigers are 13-6 overall on the season with a 6-3 mark through the first half of WCC play. Pacific is fresh off a 78-67 win over Pepperdine at home on Jan. 26, and the Tigers have won four of their last five contests.
- Through the first nine games of conference play, Pacific has losses to the Bulldogs, against BYU and against Loyola Marymount. Aside from GU's 23-point win (88-65) on Jan. 5, Pacific's other two losses are by a combined eight points. The Tigers dropped a 77-74 decision at home to BYU and lost 72-67 to Loyola Marymount, also at home.
- Pacific averages 73.7 points per game shooting 41.7 percent from the floor to go along with 38.3 rebounds per game, 14.4 assists per game and 10.3 steals per game.
- Currently, the Tigers lead the WCC in steals (10.3 spg) and turnover margin (+3.7), and they rank third in free throw percentage (74.2%) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.0).
- Three players average double figures for Pacific, led by Brooklyn McDavid with 16.3 points per game. McDavid is fresh off back-to-back WCC Player of the Week nods; she's averaging 18.6 points per game just in conference play to rank second. Valerie Higgins (15.5 ppg) and Ameela Li (15.4 ppg) also average double figures for the Tigers.
- Higgins leads the rebounding effort with 8.8 per contest, good for second in the WCC.
- Statistically speaking, Pacific is strongest offensively and defensively in the opening quarter. Throughout the season, the Tigers average 21.5 points in the opening quarter (408 on the season) while limiting their opponents to 15.7 points in the first 10 minutes. Against Gonzaga in early January, Pacific claimed a 25-14 first-quarter lead. However, the Tigers offensive strength tends to weaken in the final three quarters as they average 17.1 in the 2nd, 17.8 in the third and 17.3 in the fourth.
- Pacific currently sits in third place in the WCC standings; the Tigers own the tiebreaker over Saint Mary's (which has an identical 6-3 WCC record) after defeating the Gaels 76-67 in the first meeting on Dec. 31.
 
STEPPING UP IN CONFERENCE PLAY
Through the first nine games of WCC play, at least one Bulldog ranks in the top 10 in 10 statistical categories:
 
Assists per Game:
1st, Jessie Loera (5.3 apg)
5th, Laura Stockton (4.9 apg)
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio
1st, Laura Stockton (3.5)
3rd, Jessie Loera (3.2)
Field Goal Percentage
2nd, Jenn Wirth (61.4 percent)
3rd, Zykera Rice (59.8 percent)
5th, Jill Townsend (56.7 percent)
Points Per Game
5th, Zykera Rice (17.4 ppg)
Blocked Shots
9th, Jenn Wirth (0.8 bpg)
Offensive Rebounds per Game
9th, Zykera Rice, (2.3 per game)
Free Throw Percentage
5th, Laura Stockton (84.2 percent)
Steals per Game
8th, Laura Stockton (2.0 spg)
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage
2nd, Jill Townsend (50 percent)
5th, Katie Campbell (42.2 percent)
Three-Point Field Goals Made per Game
5th, Katie Campbell (2.1 per game)
 
SHOTS FIRED, AND MADE
Currently, Jill Townsend and Zykera Rice are shooting over 50 percent from the floor for the season. Townsend leads the Zags and ranks third in the WCC shooting 54.1 percent from the floor, while Rice ranks sixth in the conference shooting 50.9 percent. Townsend's numbers currently rank third all time for field goal percentage in a single season behind Sheri McNeal (1st, 57.6%) and Kayla Standish (2nd, 56.0%).
 
WHILE WE'RE TALKING SHOOTING %'S...
Zykera Rice claims the top two spots in the WCC for shooting percentage in a single game. Her career- and program-best (since 1999) 11-for-12 performance (91.7 percent) at Pepperdine on Dec. 31 and her 11-for-13 (84.6 percent) shooting night against Portland on Jan. 12 are the two best shooting performances by any WCC player this season. Katie Campbell, meanwhile, claims two of the top five spots for three-point percentages in a single game. Campbell's 5-for-6 performance (83.3 percent) against Stanford on Dec. 2 leads the WCC, and her 5-for-7 performance (71.4 percent) from beyond-the-arc at San Diego is in a four-way tie for second.
 
KEEPING THE STREAK ALIVE
Katie Campbell is currently on a 19-game streak with at least one three-point field goal. Through the first 21 games, Campbell is 45-94 from long range shooting 47.9 percent to lead the Zags. Campbell's 47.9 percent also ranks sixth in the nation.