For most of this season, Gonzaga’s (12-6, 4-1) Achilles heel has been turning the ball over. The Bulldogs entered play on Saturday with 313 turnovers, good for fifth in the WCC. And their opponent, Portland (9-8), came into action forcing the most turnovers in the conference (343), and is the only team in the conference to average more than 20 takeaways a game.

This bad matchup for GU went about as expected in the game’s opening quarter. But little by little, the Zags handled the ball pressure applied by the Pilots with more poise and found themselves in the driver’s seat for a comfortable 69-55 win on their home floor.

Forcing teams to turn it over is no accident on PU’s part, as the Pilots press every time their opponents inbound the ball. It makes bringing the ball up the floor a pain, and it really was a struggle for Gonzaga, which had nine turnovers in the first quarter to only six points, all scored by forward Lauren Whittaker. The constant doubling and trapping of every Bulldog ball-handler led to steals, travels, and offensive fouls – all giving Portland extra possessions. Even with no surprises in their playstyle, the Pilots’ defense still left the Zags needing an adjustment period.