EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (2-2) at GONZAGA (2-3)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 | 2 P.M. PT | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER (6,000)
RADIO: 101.5 FM | GAME NOTES
TV: SWX AND ESPN+ | LIVE STATS
THE TIPOFF
- The Gonzaga women's basketball team returns home to host Eastern Washington University on Sunday.
- Freshman Lauren Whittaker is shooting at 56.9% from the floor, which ranks third in the West Coast Conference. Through four games, she is averaging 16.2 points and 8.2 rebounds. Her 41 total rebounds this season ranks first in the WCC as well.
- Against Colorado State, Whittaker scored 29 points, making her just the third freshman in GU history to scored 29 points or more in a game. (Jill Barta and Heather Bowman are the only other two.)
- Gonzaga is currently ranked 19th in the country in three-point percentage at 39.5%. Individually, Allie leads the team at 42.3%.
- The Bulldogs were picked to finish second in the West Coast Conference in the preseason coaches poll. Sophomore Allie Turner and junior Zee Aukoso were named to the WCC Preseason Team as well.
- Turner was recently named to the 2026 Becky Hammon Player of the Year Preseason Watch List. She was one of 25 players in the country to make the list.
- The Zags represent the last two WCC Freshman of the Year with Allie Turner winning it in 2025 and Zee Aokuso in 2024 during her time at Saint Mary's.
- Head coach Lisa Fortier currently sits at 291-77 in her career. Among active Division I coaches with at least five years at the level, she is currently ranked fifth in winning percentage (.791). Fortier is also now tied in second place on the WCC career coaching wins list with 171.
THE SERIES
SERIES INFO: The Zags have a 38-13 record against Eastern Washington.
STREAK: Gonzaga - 19
FIRST MEETING: In 1982, GU lost at home to the Eags, 79-39.
LAST MEETING: Gonzaga won at home 79-50 last December. Allie Turner scored 19 points in the game.
SCOUTING THE EAGS
- Through 4 games as an Eagle, Elyn Bowers is showing her scoring ability. Bowers leads the team with 16.8 points per game, while shooting 56.1% from the floor and a 52.9% from three-point range. She has scored in double digits in each game to start her Eagle career. In the Big Sky, Bowers ranks 2nd in three-point shooting, percentage 4th in field goal percentage and 5th in scoring. This past game, Bowers scored 14 points on 4-of-6(66.7%) shooting, going 1-2 on threes.
- Eastern has recorded 10+ steals in 3-of-4 games this season, with a high of 13 against Northwest to start the season.
- EWU has shown its willingness to shoot the three early this season, carrying a 38.3% mark from behind the arc that ranks 2nd in the Big Sky.
WHITTAKER TAKEOVER
- Lauren Whittaker scored 29 points against Colorado State. She is the first freshman to reach at least 29 points since Jill Barta in 2016 when she scored 31.
- Whittaker is one of three freshmen in GU history to reach 29 points or more in a game, joining Barta (2016) and Heather Bowman (2006).
- Whittaker recorded her first double double of her career against SDSU. She is one of 11 freshmen in GU history to record a double double with points and rebounds. (Jill Barta, Heather Bowman, Anne Bailey, Kelly Bowen, Janelle Bekkering, Courtney Vandersloot, Jenn Wirth, Ashley Anderson, Emma Wolfram, Shelby Cheslek)
TURNER FOR THREE
- Allie Turner is tied for #1 among all returners in three points made in 2024-25 and the first freshman since 2020-21 to record 100+ three pointers in a single season.
- Turner's 105 made threes is the most made in a single season at Gonzaga last season. She broke the record against UTSA to pass Brynna Maxwell's record of 96 in a single season (2023-24). She is one of two players in Gonzaga history, men's or women's, to reach 100 threes in a single season with the only other Bulldog being Dan Dickau in 2001-02.
