Gonzaga WBB Takes Down San Diego 66-56, Wins Fifth Straight Game
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1408"]
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Zeryhia Aokuso (55) takes a shot over San Diego Toreros guard Olivia Owens (24) in a 66-56 win at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Credit: Gonzaga Athletics [/caption]
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – For not being a particularly stellar defensive team, Gonzaga women’s basketball (19-7, 11-2) is sure in a groove with its back to the basket. After surrendering only 37 and 44 points, respectively, in their previous two games, the Bulldogs captured their fifth straight win by a score of 66-56 over the San Diego Toreros (9-18, 3-11), continuing a run of strong performances defensively.
GU head coach Lisa Fortier has found a formula with her deep rotations, as even if all 11 or 12 players she checks in aren’t getting substantial minutes, the starters and the first couple off the bench can remain fresh throughout the contest. Roles are setting in for each Bulldog to pitch in situationally, and it might be the best way to get the most out of this group on the defensive end.
Ironically enough, the Zags are actually in a sort of rut offensively, although it is going under the radar due to the comfortable victories they are stacking. Even while posting the second-highest field goal percentage in the WCC (44.7%), GU is shooting a tick under 37% across its last three games, but the improved play when its opponents have the ball is keeping the two sides at an arm’s length apart regardless.
USD’s attack offensively was essentially a two-woman army, and even with the ultimate result being a double-digit loss, the strategy did gain some traction at a point in the contest. Sophomore guard Kylie Ray did a lot of heavy lifting for the Toreros, scoring 25 points on 11-of-23 shooting, playing all 40 minutes as the team’s primary ball-handler. Her mate in the backcourt, freshman Olivia Owens, stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in two fewer minutes on a less efficient 5-for-15 from the field.
But there wasn’t much contribution from the other players in San Diego’s rotation. And although Ray and Owens kept the Toreros in the game as well as they could, they shot a combined 1-for-12 from deep, part of a 2-for-18 showing from USD on shots beyond the arc. The three-point shooting was no different for GU, which finished with a 3-for-16 on distance looks.
Meanwhile, it was another seemingly pedestrian performance from redshirt freshman Lauren Whittaker, who collected her thirteenth double-double of the season, as her 19 points and 12 rebounds were a mainstay for Gonzaga once again. Zeryhia Aokuso was the other Zag to finish in double figures, dropping 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. And although Allie Turner struggled with her jumper, posting a 1-of-10 night from the floor, she still got to the line three separate times, draining all six of her tries at the charity stripe.
Everyone was getting free-throw opportunities in between whistles as well, with there being 35 fouls committed combined. So the Bulldogs being able to get greedy when they could and get nine steals made a difference when officials had a quick trigger for contact. It was particularly noticeable when they jumped passing lanes, as forwards Whittaker and Sierra Lichte hauled in three and two steals, respectively, intercepting would-be passes to start transition offense. Getting solid defensive effort from the guards, such as Inés Bettencourt and Teryn Gardner, while bringing in longer wings like Julia Wilson and Christabel Osarobo in selective moments, scoring on the Zags right now is no easy task.
GU will look to extend its winning streak to six this Saturday, wrapping up a quick two-game road trip as it takes on LMU (16-8, 10-3) at 2 PM.
