RV/RV Gonzaga (20-5, 11-1 WCC) vs. Saint Mary's (12-12, 6-7 WCC)
THURSDAY, FEB. 16 | 6 P.M. | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER | SPOKANE, WASH.
LIVE VIDEO |  LIVE STATS | 94.1 FM or 790 AM KJRB

THE TIP OFF
- The Gonzaga Bulldogs host Saint Mary's this Thursday, Feb. 17, with a 6 p.m. tipoff. The game is the annual Pink Game for the Zags and fans are encouraged to participate by wearing pink apparel to the game.
- Gonzaga is coming off a gritty win at the University of San Francisco. The Bulldogs were down six with 30 seconds to go. After a series of events, Melody Kempton made a last-second bucket to give GU the 83-82 win over the Dons. Two days prior, the Zags also had a road game at Santa Clara and won 72-55.
- Kaylynne Truong is currently leading the Zags in scoring with 11.2 a game as her sister, Kayleigh Truong, is right behind her with 11 points a game. Melody Kempton is averaging a team-high 6.4 rebounds as she just eclipsed 500 career rebounds last game. Yvonne Ejim is leading the team in blocks (34) and steals (37) so far this season.
- The Zags are averaging 40.3 rebounds a game and a 10.1 rebound margin, which ranks eighth in the nation and first in the WCC.
- Cierra Walker is ranked 26th in the country and first in the WCC in three-point field-goal percentage as she has averaged 42.1 percent this year.
- Melody Kempton is currently ranked second in the conference in field-goal percentage at 53.9 percent.
- From the charity stripe, the Zags are first in the WCC in free throws made (334) and second in free-throw percentage (77.1), which also ranks 19th in the nation.
- Defensively, the Bulldogs are first in the conference in scoring defense with 55.9 points, which is also good for 29th in the country.
- In conference games won this year, GU has an average margin of victory by 17 points.
- The Bulldogs will face six teams that were part of the 2021 NCAA Tournament during the 2021-22 campaign. 
- Last season, the Zags advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight year under head coach Lisa Fortier.
- Gonzaga returns two starters and seven letterwinners from last season's squad that claimed the Zags' fifth consecutive West Coast Conference regular season title.
-The Zags won their ninth WCC Tournament Title in 2021 with a thrilling victory over BYU in the championship game. 

GAME AT A GLANCE
SERIES INFO: 77 all-time meetings, Gonzaga leads 47-29. Head coach Lisa Fortier is 13-4 against SMC.        
STREAK: Gonzaga - 3        
FIRST MEETING: GU lost to Saint Mary's on the road in 1988, 79-63.        
LAST MEETING: Gonzaga defeated the Gaels, 66-53, on the road earlier this year on Jan. 22. The Truongs both scored in double figures for the Bulldogs road win.    
HOME SWEET HOME:  The Zags have historically played very well at their home court in The Kennel. Including this season so far, the Bulldogs have been 44-4 since 2018.                                                                               
IN THE POLLS: Gonzaga is currently receiving votes in the AP and Coaches Poll this week.                

SCOUTING THE GAELS
- SMC is currently 12-12 overall and 6-7 in WCC play. The team is currently on a two game losing streak with their last win on Feb. 7 at Santa Clara, 88-81.
- Saint Mary's is coming off a 84-69 loss over No. 20 BYU on Feb. 12. The Gaels had a 42-40 lead at the half and trailed by just three going into the fourth, but it wasn't until the final few minutes that BYU gained a double-digit lead due to 10 turnovers by SMC.
- Bamberger leads the team overall with 15.6 points and 9.1 rebounds a game, which ranks second in the West Coast Conference. She also has a team-high 16 blocks and 16 steals this year. 
- SMC and Gonzaga had two common foes in the non-conference slate as Saint Mary's defeated UC Davis 52-50 and fell to Utah, 92-50.
- The Gaels average 67.4 points and 38.5 rebounds a game this season.