SPOKANE, Wash. – The No. 23/23 Gonzaga women's basketball team continues play at home Monday, Jan. 4 as it welcomes Pacific to the McCarthey Athletic Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast locally on SWX.
 
#23/23 GONZAGA (8-2, 3-0 WCC) vs. PACIFIC (3-1, 1-0 WCC)
JAN. 4 | 6 P.M. | SPOKANE, WASH. | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER
TELEVISION: SWX | LIVE STREAM (OUT OF REGION) | LIVE STATS
 
THE TIP-OFF
- The Bulldogs extended their home win streak to 20 games with a 69-37 victory over Saint Mary's on Saturday. Entering the season, GU held the eighth-longest home win streak in the nation at 18 games. The 20-game home win streak is the longest under Head Coach Lisa Fortier.
- With the win over Saint Mary's, Gonzaga improved to 3-0 in conference play for the third-straight season and the fifth time in the last six seasons.
- Monday will be the eighth time that the Zags have played on Jan. 4 and the second-straight season. Gonzaga holds a 4-3 overall record on the date. Last year, the Bulldogs defeated San Diego 57-42 in San Diego, the 12th win in last season's 21-game win streak, the second-longest win streak in program history.
- For the second time in program history, the Bulldogs were ranked in the preseason Associated Press Poll. Gonzaga debuted at No. 21 in the AP poll and at No. 20 ranking in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. It marks the third time in history GU has been ranked in the preseason coaches poll and the second-straight season.
- Currently, Gonzaga is ranked 23rd in both the AP and Coaches polls. The Bulldogs have now been ranked or receiving votes for 44 consecutive voting weeks, dating back to Dec. 3, 2018.
- The Bulldogs return three starters and nine letter winners from last season's squad that claimed the Zags' fourth consecutive West Coast Conference regular season title.
- In 2019-20, Gonzaga rose to its highest regular-season national ranking ever, securing a No. 11 AP and No. 10 ranking in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. Prior to the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Zags were predicted as high as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were expected to host the First and Second Rounds for the first time since the NCAA changed hosting rules for the tournament in 2014-15.
- Gonzaga returns 79.1 percent of its scoring and 79.2 percent of its rebounding from last season.
- Gonzaga returns as one of the top defensive teams in the nation from a season ago. In 2019-20, the Bulldogs ranked third in the nation in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 51.9 points per game.
- The Bulldogs won 28 games last season, including a 17-1 mark in WCC play to tie their own record for wins in a conference season. It was the fourth-straight 25+ win season and 12th 25+ win season in the last 13 seasons.
 
SERIES NOTES
- HOME: 5-3, Gonzaga leads
- ROAD: 6-2, Gonzaga leads
- NEUTRAL: 1-0, Gonzaga leads
- FIRST MEETING: Gonzaga won, 65-64 (1999)
- LAST MEETING: Gonzaga won 83-65 in Stockton (2/6/20)
- STREAK: Gonzaga, Won 8
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
- Pacific is 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the West Coast Conference after its first four games were canceled due to COVID protocol.
- The Tigers officially opened the season on Dec. 15 against No. 1 Stanford at home, bearing witness to Cardinal Head Coach Tara VanDerveer becoming the winningest coach in NCAA Division I women's basketball history. VanDerveer earned her 1,099th career victory at Pacific on Dec. 15.
- Since that lopsided 104-61 loss to the Cardinal, Pacific has gone 3-0 with wins against LSU, at UNLV and at Saint Mary's. Each of the last two games for the Tigers have gone to overtime, with the win at UNLV extending to double-overtime.
- After opening WCC play with a 77-75 overtime win at Saint Mary's, Pacific's game at Portland was canceled out of an abundance of caution.
- Currently, Pacific averages 72.3 points per contest shooting 40.1 percent from the floor and 30.9 percent from long range. The Tigers add 38.8 rebounds per game, 14.5 assists and 17.0 turnovers to go along with 9.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
- Four players average double-figures for the Tigers, led by WCC Preseason All-Conference selection Valerie Higgins at 18.3 points per game (that number also ranks third in the WCC).
- Fellow WCC Preseason All-Conference honoree Brooklyn McDavid ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game. Sam Ashby adds 10.5 while Lianna Tillman chips in 10.3.
- Higgins also leads the effort on the glass at 7.0 rebounds per contest, and she leads the defensive effort for the Tigers, averaging a team-best 3.75 steals per game.
- Pacific was selected to finish sixth in WCC play in the WCC Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll, released in late October.
 
DIALING IT UP IN CONFERENCE PLAY
Since entering conference play, the Zags are collectively more dominant. As a team, GU has outscored its opponents 192-141 through the first three games (a 17.0 scoring margin), and the Bulldogs have dominated the glass. Since the start of WCC play, GU has out-rebounded its opponents 132-76, a +18.7 rebounding margin per game. Three players are averaging double-figures for the Zags in WCC play, led by Jill Townsend at 13.3 points per game. Jenn Wirth is averaging a double-double in conference play (12.3 points and 12.7 rebounds) and she's shooting nearly 63 percent from the floor. LeeAnne Wirth adds 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 24.3 minutes of play.
 
DIGGIN' THE DEFENSE
Gonzaga's defense secured new season lows Saturday against Saint Mary's. The Bulldogs held the Gaels to just 37 points, the fewest points scored by a Zag opponent this season. SMC recorded just 14 field goals in the win, another low, along with a 31.1 field goal percentage, the second lowest by a Zag opponent this season.