SPOKANE, Wash. – The #15/15 Gonzaga women's basketball team clinched a share of the West Coast Conference Title with a 53-46 win over visiting Santa Clara Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out McCarthey Athletic Center. It marks the 16th regular-season title in program history and fourth straight for Gonzaga.
 
"It's awesome; it's a feeling that never gets old," head coach Lisa Fortier said. "It's always on the list of things that we are trying to accomplish. Ever since I've been here—for 15 years—there's never been a season where that wasn't at least one of the goals that we set out is to win the championship."
 
Gonzaga (25-2, 14-1 WCC) was led by Jenn Wirth who posted her fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. The junior forward added three assists and one steal in the win. Kayleigh Truong was the next highest scorer for the Zags with nine points, shooting 50 percent from the floor.
 
Gonzaga dominated Santa Clara (9-16, 3-11 WCC) on the glass with a 42-29 advantage with 16 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points. The Bulldogs limited SCU to 37 percent shooting from the floor and 29.4 percent from long range while forcing 15 turnovers on the Broncos.
 
The Bulldogs never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first two-and-a-half minutes of play; by the end of the second period, Gonzaga had extended its lead to eleven (30-19).
 
A jumper from Kayleigh Truong to open the third period put GU ahead by 13 (32-19); Gonzaga led by double-figures for most of the third period until a 6-3 SCU run to close the third stanza cut the lead to eight (41-33). A Bronco layup to start the fourth period cut the lead to six (41-35), but that is the closest the Zags allowed. GU continued on to earn the 53-46 victory and a share of the WCC regular-season title. With the win, Gonzaga also improved to 14-0 at home this season, the first undefeated home slate since the 2013-14 season.
 
Saturday also marked the final regular-season home game for the Zags, and as such, was the final game for seniors Katie Campbell and Loera inside the McCarthey Athletic Center. Both Campbell and Loera were honored pregame, joined on the floor with their friends and families.
 
"It was a lot of fun, and they deserve nothing less," said Jenn Wirth. "Obviously we play to win, and it was a little closer than we anticipated but our seniors deserved it so we were going to make it happen no matter what."
 
"I expected to have such great teammates and such a great experience [coming to Gonzaga]," Loera said. "I think reaching those goals, getting the titles and everything was just part of it. It's been so much fun; all of that was due to our teammates, our coaches, people who have come to support us and help us throughout the years. I just really appreciate that."
Santa Clara finished with two players in double-figures, led by Tia Hay with 13 points. Merle Wiehl added 10 points.
 
Gonzaga hits the road for a pair of games in Southern California next week, beginning with a matchup at Loyola Marymount Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in Los Angeles. Check GoZags.com for up-to-date game day information.