LMU (6-5) at GONZAGA (8-5)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 | 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 opens up West Coast Conference competition this Sunday, Dec. 28, at home versus the LMU Lions. Entering the WCC portion of the schedule, the Zags are seeking their 21st regular season title in the final season in the conference. 

- Freshman Lauren Whittaker is shooting at 58.1% from the floor, which ranks first  in the West Coast Conference and 25th in the nation. With 254 points so far this season, she ranks second in scoring among other freshmen in the country and 17th overall. 

- Gonzaga is currently ranked 11th in the country and first in the WCC in three-point percentage at 38.7%. Individually, Allie Turner leads the team in made threes this season with 32 and ranks 55th nationally.

- The Zags have outrebounded their opponents in 12 of the 13 games this year and has a rebound margin of +9.1 to rank 34th in the country.

- Whittaker has scored at least 20 points in five games so far this year. She has reached double figures in scoring in 12 of 13 games played and has five double doubles, which is a GU freshman record.  Her 121 rebounds rank second among freshmen in the nation and 22nd overall. 

- 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.

- 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 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.

- Head coach Lisa Fortier currently sits at 296-79 in her career. Among active Division I coaches with at least five years at the level, she is currently ranked sixth in winning percentage (.789). Fortier is also now tied in second place on the WCC career coaching wins list with 171.

THE SERIES
SERIES INFO: Gonzaga leads the series overall 59-21.
STREAK: Gonzaga - 35
FIRST MEETING: In 1985, GU won on the road, 100-78.
LAST MEETING: In 2025, the Zags won at home 69-57 and went 2-0 against the Lions.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
- LMU is 6–5 on the season and has won three of its last five, including a 76–68 win over Southern Utah on Dec. 21.

- The Lions average 65.0 points per game while allowing 58.0, giving them a +7.0 scoring margin.

- Jess Lawson leads the team with 14.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, shooting 45 percent from the field. Maya Hernandez adds 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and plays a team-high 28.0 minutes per outing.

- LMU averages 33.4 rebounds per game and holds a +4.5 margin on the glass.

- Defensively, the Lions force 19.2 turnovers per game and collect 8.8 steals.

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.

- Against Missouri State, Whittaker recorded 16 rebounds and her fourth double double of the year. The 16 rebounds marks second in a single game record for freshmen, only behind Anne Bailey with 20.

- 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)

- So far this season, Whittaker has had six games with 20 or more points. She is one of four freshman in GU history to have multiple 20+ point games. (Allie Turner x5, Heather Bowman x8, Jill Barta x8)

- With five double doubles so far this season, Whittaker is one of five freshmen in Gonzaga history to have multiple double doubles in a season. (Barta x4, Bowman x4, Anne Bailey x2, Shelby Chelsek x2)

Triple Threats All Around
- Against UC Davis, Gonzaga made its most threes in a game so far this season with 12. Five Bulldogs made at least one three in the game including Zeryhia Aokuso, Ines Bettencourt, Teryn Gardner, Allie Turner, and Lauren Whittaker. 

- Five players scored a three pointer in the game against ASU as the team made 10 or more for the second-straight time this season. 

- Five Zags have a shooting percentage beyond the arc above 40% (Bettencourt, Gardner, Turner, and Whittaker and Wilson). 

- While Turner has made the most three pointers with 32 at 41.9%, Gardner is shooting a team-best 46.3% with 19 made this season. 

A.T. = Automatic from 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.