Tuesday, March 9
Las Vegas, NV
1 P.M.
Gonzaga University
vs
#2 BYU
Bulldogs Ready for BYU in WCC Tournament Championship Tuesday
3/8/2021 5:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Second time in three seasons Zags & Cougars have matched up in WCC Finals
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The No. 16/15 and No. 1-seeded Gonzaga women's basketball team is set to face No. 2-seeded BYU in the West Coast Conference Tournament Championship March 9 at 1 p.m. PT inside The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
#16/15 GONZAGA (22-3) vs. BYU (18-4)
MARCH 9 | 1 P.M. | LAS VEGAS, NEV. | THE ORLEANS ARENA
TELEVISION: ESPNU | STREAM (ESPN) | LIVE STATS
THE TIP-OFF
- Gonzaga defeated Santa Clara 72-62 in the semifinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament to advance to its 15th WCC Tournament championship game and its fourth in the last five seasons.
- With the win, GU improved to 22-3 on the season. It marks the fifth-straight 20-win season for the Zags, and the 19th 20-win season in program history.
- For the second time in three seasons, Gonzaga will face BYU in the championship game. The Cougars bested the Zags back in the 2019 finals matchup, 82-68. BYU earned a trip back to the finals--its first since 2019--with an 85-55 victory over No. 3 San Francisco Monday afternoon.
- The Zags secured the outright West Coast Conference regular-season title with a 95-49 victory over Pepperdine on Feb. 25 inside the McCarthey Athletic Center. It's the fifth-straight regular-season title for the Zags and the 17th in program history.
- Gonzaga concluded the regular season with another dominating performance, defeating visiting LMU 77-39 on Senior Day on Feb. 27. It extended the nation's leading home win streak to 25 straight games. The Zags haven't lost a game in the Kennel since the 2018-19 season. Currently, Gonzaga is tied with Stephen F. Austin for the nation's longest win streak. Maryland is third with 22 straight, while South Dakota (20 straight) and Rice (19 straight) round out the top five.
- With the win over Loyola Marymount on Feb. 27, Gonzaga finished undefeated at home for the fifth time in program history and the second-straight season. It also marks the eighth undefeated home conference slate in program history.
- Tuesday will mark the sixth time in program history that the Zags have played on March 9, and the second-straight season. All five of the games GU has played on the date have been part of the WCC Tournament; the Zags carry a 2-3 overall record on the day.
- Gonzaga collected five WCC All-Conference honors this season, tying BYU for league-leading honors. Senior Jenn Wirth picked up Player of the Year honors--the first of her career--and the second-straight Zag and third in the last four seasons to earn the top award. Wirth was also selected to the All-WCC First Team along with Jill Townsend, the second such award for both. Melody Kempton was named the first-ever WCC Sixth Woman of the Year along with Honorable Mention All-WCC, the first all-conference awards for the junior forward. Kayleigh Truong and LeeAnne Wirth joined Kempton as All-WCC Honorable Mention, the second All-WCC award for Truong (All-Freshman in 2020), and the first All-WCC award for LeeAnne Wirth.
- Currently, Gonzaga is ranked 16th in the AP Poll and 15th in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs have now been ranked or receiving votes for 54 consecutive voting weeks, dating back to Dec. 3, 2018.
- Gonzaga leads the WCC and ranks 16th nationally in scoring defense, limiting squads to an average of 55.4 points per game.
- The Zags are also one of the top rebounding teams in the nation. On average, Gonzaga out-rebounds its opponents by 13.8 rebounds per game to rank fourth in the nation in rebounding margin.
- 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: 11-3, Gonzaga leads
- ROAD: 7-5, BYU leads
- NEUTRAL: 3-2, BYU leads
- FIRST MEETING: BYU won 80-63 in Spokane in 1983-84
- LAST MEETING: BYU won 61-56 in Provo on Feb. 18.
- STREAK: BYU, Won 1
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
- BYU is 18-4 overall on the season following an 85-55 romp over San Francisco in the semifinals of the WCC Tournament Monday. The Cougars secured the No. 2 overall seed after finishing 13-3 in WCC play.
- As a team, BYU averages 70.5 points per game shooting 45.3 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from long range. The Cougars average 37.6 rebounds per game with a +4.5 rebounding margin with 17.0 assists per game, 7.6 steals per game and 4.3 blocks per game to go along with 14.4 turnovers per game.
- Three players average double-figures for BYU, led by Shaylee Gonzales at 18.1 points per contest. Gonzales was named Co-Player of the Year in the WCC this season along with Gonzaga's Jenn Wirth.
- Paisley Harding adds 14.1 points per game while Lauren Gustin chips in 11.7; both Harding and Gustin were named to First Team All-WCC.
- Gustin adds 12.8 rebounds per game to lead BYU; the sophomore forward led the WCC in rebounding this season and collected the most double-doubles in the conference with 13. GU's Jenn Wirth ranked second with nine.
- Six-foot-seven senior center Sara Hamson leads the Cougars and led the WCC in blocks per game with 2.62. Hamson is also the active career leader among all NCAA D-I players with 392 career blocks.
- Three players have over 70 assists on the season, led by Gonzales with 85 total on the season for a 3.86 per game average, good for sixth in the WCC. Harding (74, 3.36 apg) and Albiero (71, 3.2 apg) rank second and third for the Cougars, respectively.
#16/15 GONZAGA (22-3) vs. BYU (18-4)
MARCH 9 | 1 P.M. | LAS VEGAS, NEV. | THE ORLEANS ARENA
TELEVISION: ESPNU | STREAM (ESPN) | LIVE STATS
THE TIP-OFF
- Gonzaga defeated Santa Clara 72-62 in the semifinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament to advance to its 15th WCC Tournament championship game and its fourth in the last five seasons.
- With the win, GU improved to 22-3 on the season. It marks the fifth-straight 20-win season for the Zags, and the 19th 20-win season in program history.
- For the second time in three seasons, Gonzaga will face BYU in the championship game. The Cougars bested the Zags back in the 2019 finals matchup, 82-68. BYU earned a trip back to the finals--its first since 2019--with an 85-55 victory over No. 3 San Francisco Monday afternoon.
- The Zags secured the outright West Coast Conference regular-season title with a 95-49 victory over Pepperdine on Feb. 25 inside the McCarthey Athletic Center. It's the fifth-straight regular-season title for the Zags and the 17th in program history.
- Gonzaga concluded the regular season with another dominating performance, defeating visiting LMU 77-39 on Senior Day on Feb. 27. It extended the nation's leading home win streak to 25 straight games. The Zags haven't lost a game in the Kennel since the 2018-19 season. Currently, Gonzaga is tied with Stephen F. Austin for the nation's longest win streak. Maryland is third with 22 straight, while South Dakota (20 straight) and Rice (19 straight) round out the top five.
- With the win over Loyola Marymount on Feb. 27, Gonzaga finished undefeated at home for the fifth time in program history and the second-straight season. It also marks the eighth undefeated home conference slate in program history.
- Tuesday will mark the sixth time in program history that the Zags have played on March 9, and the second-straight season. All five of the games GU has played on the date have been part of the WCC Tournament; the Zags carry a 2-3 overall record on the day.
- Gonzaga collected five WCC All-Conference honors this season, tying BYU for league-leading honors. Senior Jenn Wirth picked up Player of the Year honors--the first of her career--and the second-straight Zag and third in the last four seasons to earn the top award. Wirth was also selected to the All-WCC First Team along with Jill Townsend, the second such award for both. Melody Kempton was named the first-ever WCC Sixth Woman of the Year along with Honorable Mention All-WCC, the first all-conference awards for the junior forward. Kayleigh Truong and LeeAnne Wirth joined Kempton as All-WCC Honorable Mention, the second All-WCC award for Truong (All-Freshman in 2020), and the first All-WCC award for LeeAnne Wirth.
- Currently, Gonzaga is ranked 16th in the AP Poll and 15th in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs have now been ranked or receiving votes for 54 consecutive voting weeks, dating back to Dec. 3, 2018.
- Gonzaga leads the WCC and ranks 16th nationally in scoring defense, limiting squads to an average of 55.4 points per game.
- The Zags are also one of the top rebounding teams in the nation. On average, Gonzaga out-rebounds its opponents by 13.8 rebounds per game to rank fourth in the nation in rebounding margin.
- 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: 11-3, Gonzaga leads
- ROAD: 7-5, BYU leads
- NEUTRAL: 3-2, BYU leads
- FIRST MEETING: BYU won 80-63 in Spokane in 1983-84
- LAST MEETING: BYU won 61-56 in Provo on Feb. 18.
- STREAK: BYU, Won 1
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
- BYU is 18-4 overall on the season following an 85-55 romp over San Francisco in the semifinals of the WCC Tournament Monday. The Cougars secured the No. 2 overall seed after finishing 13-3 in WCC play.
- As a team, BYU averages 70.5 points per game shooting 45.3 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from long range. The Cougars average 37.6 rebounds per game with a +4.5 rebounding margin with 17.0 assists per game, 7.6 steals per game and 4.3 blocks per game to go along with 14.4 turnovers per game.
- Three players average double-figures for BYU, led by Shaylee Gonzales at 18.1 points per contest. Gonzales was named Co-Player of the Year in the WCC this season along with Gonzaga's Jenn Wirth.
- Paisley Harding adds 14.1 points per game while Lauren Gustin chips in 11.7; both Harding and Gustin were named to First Team All-WCC.
- Gustin adds 12.8 rebounds per game to lead BYU; the sophomore forward led the WCC in rebounding this season and collected the most double-doubles in the conference with 13. GU's Jenn Wirth ranked second with nine.
- Six-foot-seven senior center Sara Hamson leads the Cougars and led the WCC in blocks per game with 2.62. Hamson is also the active career leader among all NCAA D-I players with 392 career blocks.
- Three players have over 70 assists on the season, led by Gonzales with 85 total on the season for a 3.86 per game average, good for sixth in the WCC. Harding (74, 3.36 apg) and Albiero (71, 3.2 apg) rank second and third for the Cougars, respectively.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballThursday, March 28
Monday, March 25
Sunday, March 24
Saturday, March 23
