LAS VEGAS – The No. 25/25 Gonzaga women's basketball team picked up a 77-68 victory over Eastern Michigan Sunday afternoon in its first game of the Holiday Hoops Classic at South Point Arena in Las Vegas.
 
Gonzaga (4-2) finished with four players in double-figures and two players with double-doubles. Jenn Wirth led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season, while Jill Townsend added 11 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Melody Kempton added 13 points off 3-of-6 shooting while Kaylynne Truong chipped in 11 points and four assists.
 
The Bulldogs dominated Eastern Michigan (3-3) on the glass with a 49-27 edge including 16 offensive rebounds. GU outscored the Eagles' bench 30-10, and it held Eastern Michigan's leading scorer Areanna Combs (20.6 ppg) to 1-of-10 shooting for four total points.
 
"That was a crazy game," Head Coach Lisa Fortier said. "Neither team was able to get into a rhythm. I really like how hard we posted up, and the way we looked for each other. I think if we would have made a few more free throws it would have changed the feel of the game. Nonetheless, the rebounding margin was decisive, and we did a great job on their best player."
 
Jenn Wirth started things off in the first, connecting on a jumper from Kaylynne Truong for an easy two and the lead, but it would take some time before the Zags warmed up offensively. An 8-2 run in favor of Eastern Michigan gave the Eagles an 8-4 advantage with just under six minutes to go, and EMU held the advantage until a trey from Kaylynne Truong with 4:38 to go put GU on top 9-8. The two squads traded baskets and free throws the remainder of the quarter, but a pair of free throws from EMU's Ce'Nara Skanes gave the Eagles a slight 18-16 lead.
 
The Bulldogs exploded in the second, connecting on 8-of-13 attempts—including 3-of-4 from long range—for 23 points shooting 61.5 percent from the floor. Jenn Wirth led the attack with eight points of her own in the second stanza. GU coupled their offensive prowess with a solid defensive presence, forcing seven turnovers on the Eagles while limiting Eastern Michigan to 33.3 percent shooting including a 0-for-4 performance from long range. The Bulldogs held EMU to just one point in the final 2:35 and headed to the locker room with a 39-32 advantage.
 
Gonzaga outscored Eastern Michigan 18-13 in the third period, offsetting a tough shooting performance with a superb showing at the charity stripe. GU finished 7-of-8 from the line in the third period after drawing seven fouls on the Eagles. Following two free throws from Anamaria Virjoghe with 1:05 remaining, GU secured a 12-point advantage heading in to the final period, 57-45.
 
In the final period, Gonzaga maintained a double-digit advantage for most of the quarter, extending its lead to as many as 16 points midway through the period off a free throw from Jenn Wirth. With 19 total fouls called in the final stanza, both teams traded free throws for most of the final six minutes. The Zags converted their final three field goals to seal the win, 77-68.
 
Eastern Michigan was led by Jenna Annecchiarico with 27 points and six assists while Skanes added 24 points and five rebounds.
 
Gonzaga concludes its nonconference schedule Monday, Dec. 21 against North Alabama. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. inside the South Point Arena in Las Vegas.