Saturday, January 9
Spokane, Wash.
2 P.M.
Gonzaga University
vs
University of Portland
Photo by: Mike Wootton
Zags Host Portland Saturday
1/7/2021 11:54:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Battle between last remaining unbeaten teams in the WCC
SPOKANE, Wash. – The No. 21/21 Gonzaga women's basketball team hosts Portland Saturday at 2 p.m. inside the McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga and Portland are the only two remaining unbeaten teams in the West Coast Conference.
#21/21 GONZAGA (9-2, 4-0 WCC) vs. PORTLAND (6-3, 3-0 WCC)
JAN. 9 | 2 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 21 games with a 79-59 victory over Pacific on Monday. Entering the season, GU held the eighth-longest home win streak in the nation at 18 games. The 21-game home win streak is the longest under Head Coach Lisa Fortier.
- With the win over Pacific, Gonzaga improved to 4-0 in conference play for the third-straight season and the fifth time in the last six seasons.
- Saturday will be the eighth time Gonzaga has played on Jan. 9, and it will be the third time the Zags have faced Portland on the date. The Bulldogs won each of the last two meetings against the Pilots on Jan. 9; first, on Jan. 9, 2010, Gonzaga defeated Portland 90-54, and during the 2015-16 season, the Zags collected a 71-63 victory against the Pilots. GU carries a 4-3 overall record on the date.
- 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 21st in both the AP and Coaches polls. The Bulldogs have now been ranked or receiving votes for 45 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: 28-9, Gonzaga leads
- ROAD: 17-16, Portland leads
- NEUTRAL: 4-2, Portland leads
- FIRST MEETING: Gonzaga won, 78-72 (1980-81)
- LAST MEETING: Gonzaga lost 70-69 in the WCC Tournament Semifinals, March 9, 2020
- STREAK: Portland, Won 1
SCOUTING THE PILOTS
- Through nine games this season, Portland boasts a 6-3 overall record with an unblemished 3-0 record in WCC play.
- As a team, the Pilots average 71.4 points per game to rank third in the West Coast Conference. Portland is currently shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and averages 33.1 rebounds per contest, 18.8 assists, 12.4 steals and 18.4 turnovers. The Pilots lead the league in assists and rank second in steals.
- Two players average double-figures for UP, led by reigning WCC Newcomer of the Year and All- WCC First Team selection Alex Fowler at 16.2 points per game. Haylee Andrews, an All-WCC Second Team selection a season ago, ranks second at 13.6 points. The duo also lead the Pilots in rebounding, as Fowler grabs a team-high 7.2 per game, while Andrews adds 4.9.
- Portland can shoot the three effectively at 35.6 percent for the season, but statistically, less than a third of the Pilots' attempts per game are from long range.
- The Pilots, who lead the WCC in assists at 18.8 per game, have registered at least 20 assists in five games this season, with a season-high 28 coming against Saint Mary's on Jan. 4. Andrews leads the squad in assists, dishing out an average of 5.63 per contest to lead the WCC.
- Portland was picked to finish third in the WCC in the coaches poll released in late October.
- The Pilots are fresh off a historic season during the 2019-20 campaign under the guidance of Head Coach Michael Meek, who was in his first year last season. Portland finished 21-11 in 2019-20 for its first 20-win season since 1997. The Pilots finished fourth in WCC play with an 11-7 record after having been selected 10th in the 2019-20 coaches poll, and Portland upset Gonzaga 70-69 in the semifinals of the WCC tournament to advance to the championship, defeating San Diego 64-63 to win its first WCC Tournament Championship since 1994.
- This season, Portland's Fowler and Andrews each received preseason All-WCC nods, the first time in program history that two players were selected to the preseason team.
- Portland returns most of its roster for the 2020-21 season after losing guard Kate Andersen to graduation.
THAT'S ACCURACY FOR YOU
[Jan. 7] If senior forward Jenn Wirth decides to take a shot, chances are it's going in. The Mesa, Ariz., native leads the WCC in field goal percentage at a whopping 60.2 percent (65-108). That mark also ranks 25th nationally. The next closest player in the WCC is shooting 53.7 percent. Wirth also ranks second in the conference in rebounding at 9.45 per game and is tied for sixth in scoring at 13.55.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
[Jan. 7] Head Coach Lisa Fortier's teams have always been strong rebounding teams, but following a less-than-satisfactory rebounding effort to open the season, Fortier refocused the effort on rebounding. The first two games of the season, GU posted a -1.0 rebounding margin. Since then, the Zags have out-rebounded its opponents by an average of 16.8 rebounds per game. Currently, Gonzaga leads the WCC in rebounding offense (41.45), rebounding defense (27.91) and rebounding margin (+13.55).
#21/21 GONZAGA (9-2, 4-0 WCC) vs. PORTLAND (6-3, 3-0 WCC)
JAN. 9 | 2 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 21 games with a 79-59 victory over Pacific on Monday. Entering the season, GU held the eighth-longest home win streak in the nation at 18 games. The 21-game home win streak is the longest under Head Coach Lisa Fortier.
- With the win over Pacific, Gonzaga improved to 4-0 in conference play for the third-straight season and the fifth time in the last six seasons.
- Saturday will be the eighth time Gonzaga has played on Jan. 9, and it will be the third time the Zags have faced Portland on the date. The Bulldogs won each of the last two meetings against the Pilots on Jan. 9; first, on Jan. 9, 2010, Gonzaga defeated Portland 90-54, and during the 2015-16 season, the Zags collected a 71-63 victory against the Pilots. GU carries a 4-3 overall record on the date.
- 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 21st in both the AP and Coaches polls. The Bulldogs have now been ranked or receiving votes for 45 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: 28-9, Gonzaga leads
- ROAD: 17-16, Portland leads
- NEUTRAL: 4-2, Portland leads
- FIRST MEETING: Gonzaga won, 78-72 (1980-81)
- LAST MEETING: Gonzaga lost 70-69 in the WCC Tournament Semifinals, March 9, 2020
- STREAK: Portland, Won 1
SCOUTING THE PILOTS
- Through nine games this season, Portland boasts a 6-3 overall record with an unblemished 3-0 record in WCC play.
- As a team, the Pilots average 71.4 points per game to rank third in the West Coast Conference. Portland is currently shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and averages 33.1 rebounds per contest, 18.8 assists, 12.4 steals and 18.4 turnovers. The Pilots lead the league in assists and rank second in steals.
- Two players average double-figures for UP, led by reigning WCC Newcomer of the Year and All- WCC First Team selection Alex Fowler at 16.2 points per game. Haylee Andrews, an All-WCC Second Team selection a season ago, ranks second at 13.6 points. The duo also lead the Pilots in rebounding, as Fowler grabs a team-high 7.2 per game, while Andrews adds 4.9.
- Portland can shoot the three effectively at 35.6 percent for the season, but statistically, less than a third of the Pilots' attempts per game are from long range.
- The Pilots, who lead the WCC in assists at 18.8 per game, have registered at least 20 assists in five games this season, with a season-high 28 coming against Saint Mary's on Jan. 4. Andrews leads the squad in assists, dishing out an average of 5.63 per contest to lead the WCC.
- Portland was picked to finish third in the WCC in the coaches poll released in late October.
- The Pilots are fresh off a historic season during the 2019-20 campaign under the guidance of Head Coach Michael Meek, who was in his first year last season. Portland finished 21-11 in 2019-20 for its first 20-win season since 1997. The Pilots finished fourth in WCC play with an 11-7 record after having been selected 10th in the 2019-20 coaches poll, and Portland upset Gonzaga 70-69 in the semifinals of the WCC tournament to advance to the championship, defeating San Diego 64-63 to win its first WCC Tournament Championship since 1994.
- This season, Portland's Fowler and Andrews each received preseason All-WCC nods, the first time in program history that two players were selected to the preseason team.
- Portland returns most of its roster for the 2020-21 season after losing guard Kate Andersen to graduation.
THAT'S ACCURACY FOR YOU
[Jan. 7] If senior forward Jenn Wirth decides to take a shot, chances are it's going in. The Mesa, Ariz., native leads the WCC in field goal percentage at a whopping 60.2 percent (65-108). That mark also ranks 25th nationally. The next closest player in the WCC is shooting 53.7 percent. Wirth also ranks second in the conference in rebounding at 9.45 per game and is tied for sixth in scoring at 13.55.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
[Jan. 7] Head Coach Lisa Fortier's teams have always been strong rebounding teams, but following a less-than-satisfactory rebounding effort to open the season, Fortier refocused the effort on rebounding. The first two games of the season, GU posted a -1.0 rebounding margin. Since then, the Zags have out-rebounded its opponents by an average of 16.8 rebounds per game. Currently, Gonzaga leads the WCC in rebounding offense (41.45), rebounding defense (27.91) and rebounding margin (+13.55).
Players Mentioned
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