Mar 11, 2024 Gonzaga Vs Pacific Women's Basketball -Semifinal WCC Women's Championship 2024

Gonzaga University women’s basketball defeated the Pacific Tigers 72-61 in the semifinal round of the West Coast Conference Tournament on Monday.
Graduate forward Eliza Hollingsworth finished as the top scorer on the night for GU, producing a double-double effort with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
GU’s performance featured both high marks and low marks, as the Zags shot 43% from 3-point range, but turned the ball over 25 times.
“Just happy for our team to get through that one,” said GU head coach Lisa Fortier. “That one was a hard one. We were in the locker room talking about how hard it is to get the first one, especially when you’re the No. 1 seed. It was ugly, obviously, for most of it but it was also pretty sometimes.”
Play began with the No. 1 seed Zags and No. 5 seed Pacific exchanging 3-point baskets, followed by a two-minute offensive lull for GU.
After a quick 6-0 run from the Tigers, GU responded with a pair of made free throws from Yvonne Ejim and a 3-pointer from graduate guard Kaylynne Truong. Heading into the first media timeout, GU held a slight 11-8 advantage.
Following the stoppage, both teams went on scoring droughts fueled by fouls and turnovers. The Zags broke the drought with a crafty finish from Ejim and transition 3-pointer from Kaylynne Truong.
At the end of the first quarter, GU maintained a narrow 18-15 lead over the Tigers.
The Zags opened the second quarter by going on a 7-0 run, with graduate guard Brynna Maxwell making her first 3-point shot of the conference tournament.
Continued offensive production from Ejim and two 3-pointers from Hollingsworth gave GU a 10-point lead that it maintained for the remainder of the half.
After one half of play in the WCC semifinals, the Zags led Pacific 38-25.
Ejim and Maxwell were tied as the leading scorers for GU in the first half, with both players notching 11 points.
The Zags controlled the low block in the first half, scoring 10 points in the paint. GU also won the turnover battle, committing 12 turnovers to Pacific’s 14. Both factors gave the Zags their halftime advantage.
Anaya James continued to be the main focus on offense for Pacific, as she scored nine of her team’s 25 points at the half.
As play resumed, GU continued to operate in the low block. The Zags scored five consecutive layups, earning a 50-32 advantage at a media timeout.
Pacific employed a full-court press following a score from a turnover. The Tigers gained momentum by forcing a shot clock violation from GU, followed by two consecutive 3-pointers.
Kaylynne Truong answered back for the Zags with a 3-pointer on the final shot of the third quarter. Her score gave GU a 57-43 lead heading into the final period of play.
The Zags held Pacific scoreless for the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 25 points in the process.
The Tigers followed their extended drought by going on a 12-0 run, reducing GU’s lead to 15 points with one minute remaining.
“I think we just relaxed and kind of let up,” Ejim said of GU allowing Pacific’s late run. “We just lost focus. We had a lot of turnovers and we weren’t making short passes, weren’t coming to the ball and we weren’t securing rebounds. Lapses like that are hard, especially when we’re trying to finish off a good team. It was a lapse of focus, but not something that we can’t get through.”
Pacific’s run came too late for a full comeback, and at the final buzzer, GU defeated Pacific 72-61.
“I’m proud of how the girls handled the situation,” Hollingsworth said. “It was extremely ugly and I hope that’s not the same situation tomorrow. It was a high emotion game … with everything happening, and we were cold. Going towards tomorrow, we’re going to brush it off and focus on the positives.”
Ejim was the second-leading scorer on the night for the Zags, contributing 18 points and 13 rebounds. James led Pacific in scoring, producing a 22 point, five assist performance.
GU’s victory over Pacific ensured a WCC title game berth for a fourth consecutive year, as the Zags set a program-record for consecutive wins (24).
The championship game will take place on Tuesday, with tipoff at the Orleans Arena set for 1 p.m. The Zags will take on the winner of Portland and Santa Clara, with the game being televised

[@OriginalJohnDoeFakersBeware]

4:50 -- what they didn't call in the regular season, they call in March 24:31 -- that's some great coaching Credit to Pacific for not giving up and pushing the Zags to rev up their play.