No. 17/18 GONZAGA (14-1, 3-0 WCC) vs. PACIFIC (9-3, 2-0 WCC)
JAN. 5 | 12 P.M. | SPOKANE, WASH. | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER
LIVE STREAM: theW.tv
RADIO: KJRB 790 AM/94.1 FM
LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAM
 
THE TIP-OFF
- Gonzaga and Pacific will meet for the 15th time in program history and the eighth time in Spokane. Currently, the Bulldogs are on a four-game win streak in the series.
- The Zags are currently on a 10-game win streak, the longest so far of the season. The Bulldogs longest win streak in program history is 23 games, a feat they accomplished from Dec. 10, 2004 to March 6, 2005. The longest recent streak is 15-straight victories which occurred between Dec. 17, 2017 and Feb. 8, 2018.
- With its 3-0 start to WCC play, Gonzaga has now opened conference play with a 3-0 record 13 times in program history. Two of those seasons (2004-05; 2009-10), the Bulldogs went on to have undefeated 14-0 conference records before the addition of BYU and return of Pacific to the WCC. Currently, the Zags hold the record for conference wins with 17, a feat they accomplished last season after posting a conference-best 17-1 record.
- The Zags continue to stretch their best start in program history as they carry a 14-1 overall mark following their 74-62 win over Saint Mary's on Jan. 3. Previously, their best start was an 8-2 mark, most recently during the 2013-14 season.
- Gonzaga is ranked for the fourth-straight week after entering the polls at No. 24/22 on Dec. 3. Following their 78-53 win at Loyola Marymount on Dec. 29, the Bulldogs moved up to 17th in the AP Poll on Dec. 31. It's the Bulldogs' highest ranking since reaching their highest ranking ever at No. 15 in March 2010.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: 15th meeting, Gonzaga leads 9-5
In Spokane: 3-3| In Stockton: 4-2| Neutral: 2-0
Current Streak: Gonzaga, Won 4
Last Meeting: Gonzaga defeated Pacific 90-66 in Spokane on Feb. 8, 2018.
Series Notes: Gonzaga and Pacific meet for the 15th time in program history and the seventh time in Spokane. The series dates back to the 1998-99 season when the two programs first met in a neutral-site game in Tempe, Ariz. The programs met three times before Pacific rejoined the WCC in 2013: in 1998-99; 1999-00 and 2001-02.
- The Bulldogs have won the last four meetings and have won five of the last seven. Both of Pacific's wins (in 2016 and 2017) were by a combined three points. The Tigers defeated Gonzaga 84-83 in overtime in 2016 and 65-63 in the first meeting in 2017.
- Throughout the series, Gonzaga has averaged 77.4 points per game while limiting Pacific to 69.9.
- In the last meeting, Gonzaga ran past the Tigers 90-66 for its 20th win of the 2017-18 season. Four players finished in double-figures, led by Jill Barta with 25 points and 12 boards. Zykera Rice added 13 points, Chandler Smith 12 and Laura Stockton added 10. The Bulldogs led 25-15 after the first quarter and never looked back, cruising to the 90-66 win.
 
SCOUTING PACIFIC:
- The Tigers are 9-3 overall on the season with a 2-0 mark in conference play. On the season, Pacific averages 73.2 points and 40.1 rebounds per game shooting 40.7 percent from the floor and 29.3 percent from long range. The Tigers have increased their offensive output in WCC play, averaging 76.0 points and 49.0 rebounds per contest through the first two games. Currently, Pacific is on a three-game win streak.
- Three players average double-figures for the Tigers, led by Valerie Higgins with 16.9 points per game. Ameela Li is close behind at 16.2 points while Brooklyn McDavid adds 14.7 points per contest. Six players average at least 20 minutes for the Tigers who rely heavily on their starting five. Li leads the team in minutes at 34.1 while Jessica Blakeslee adds 33.0 per game.
- In conference play, Li averages 22.0 points per game, McDavid adds 17.0 and Higgins averages 16.0. Higgins adds 12.0 rebounds per game while McDavid adds 11.0 to average double-doubles.
- In both conference games, the Tigers have started quickly, outscoring their opponents 46-34 in the first quarter. Pacific currently ranks second in the WCC in scoring offense at 73.2 points per game and in steals at 10.1 per contest.