Gonzaga women roll on
Bowman five shy of GU scoring record
Courtney Vandersloot had another big all-around game and Heather Bowman inched closer to the school scoring record as the Gonzaga women’s basketball team destroyed Santa Clara 81-43 before 2,419 fans at McCarthey Athletic Center Thursday night.
Vandersloot had 19 points, eight assists, seven steals, three rebounds and no turnovers in a team-high 28 minutes to help the (17-4, 6-0) build a 40-point lead before the midway point of the second half when reserves took over.
Bowman, who set the West Coast Conference scoring record two weeks ago, had 12 points, giving her 2,007. She should get the five points she needs to pass Tammy Tibbles’ record when GU faces San Francisco Saturday afternoon. Vandersloot, who became the Bulldogs’ all-time assist leader (now 624, 35 shy of the league record) last weekend, now has 215 steals, 21 shy of the school record.
Vivian Friesen added 11 points and eight rebounds. Katelon Redmon, who averages 11.9 points, is sitting out this weekend to rest a sore foot.
No player scored in double figures for Santa Clara (3-19, 1-6), which is coached by former GU player and coach Jennifer Mountain.
The Broncos shot just 27.6 percent and had 26 turnovers, 17 which were steals as Gonzaga scored 28 points off turnovers and had 16 fast-break points.
The Bulldogs shot 43.2 percent, including 9 of 21 3-points, and hit 8 of 11 free throws.
Gonzaga 81, Santa Clara 43
Santa Clara (3-18, 1-5)- Goldenberger 2-6 0-0 4, Gipson 1-2 1-4 3, Fulps 2-10 0-0 6, Faithfull 0-0 0-0 0, Shoji 3-17 2-2 9, Thomas 0-2 0-0 0, Anderson 4-8 0-1 8, Willinsky 1-1 4-5 6, Armstrong 1-8 0-1 3, Goeggel 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 16-58 7-13 43.
Gonzaga (17-4, 6-0)- Frieson 5-10 1-2 11, Bowman 4-10 4-4 12, Bekkering 3-3 0-0 8, Vandersloot 8-13 1-2 19, Shives 3-8 0-0 9, Schick 0-0 0-0 0, TecleMariam 0-1 0-0 0, Lorenzo 0-1 0-0 0, Petersen 0-1 0-0 0, Winters 2-5 0-0 5, Reader 1-3 0-0 2, Standish 3-9 0-0 7, Raap 1-3 1-2 3, Bowen 2-7 1-1 5. Totals 32-74 8-11 81.
Halftime—Gonzaga 43, Santa Clara 20. 3-Point Goals—Santa Clara 4-19 (Fulps 2-6, Shoji 1-8, Armstrong 1-5), Gonzaga 9-21 (Boman 0-1, Bekkering 2-2, Vandersloot 2-5, Shives 3-6, Winters 1-2, Standish 1-3, Bowen 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Santa Clara 44 (Armstrong 10), Gonzaga 46 (Frieson, Standish 8). Assists—Santa Clara 8 (Fulps 4), Gonzaga 20 (Vandersloot 8). Total Fouls—Santa Clara 12, Gonzaga 12. A—2,419.