GU women trip Women of Troy

The Gonzaga women’s basketball team finished its season-opening California road trip 2-0 after a 63-52 nonconference victory over Southern California on Sunday in Los Angeles.

The win snapped a two-game losing skid to the Women of Troy, including a 58-51 loss last season in Spokane.

Keani Albanez led the Bulldogs (2-0) with 17 points, tying her career high, and Haiden Palmer added 13.

Gonzaga led by as many as 22 points in the first half and led 37-22 at halftime. USC was able to get the lead down to single digits in the second half, but got no closer …

The Gonzaga women’s basketball team finished its season-opening California road trip 2-0 after a 63-52 nonconference victory over Southern California on Sunday in Los Angeles.

The win snapped a two-game losing skid to the Women of Troy, including a 58-51 loss last season in Spokane.

Keani Albanez led the Bulldogs (2-0) with 17 points, tying her career high, and Haiden Palmer added 13.

Gonzaga led by as many as 22 points in the first half and led 37-22 at halftime. USC was able to get the lead down to single digits in the second half, but got no closer than nine points.

The Bulldogs open their home schedule Friday against Wisconsin at 6 p.m.

• Washington State lost in overtime for the second time in two days, falling 65-56 to South Dakota State in the consolation game of the Best Buy Classic in Minneapolis.

Tia Presley (Gonzaga Prep) scored 13 points and had career highs of eight rebounds and five assists for the Cougars (0-2). Lia Galdeira added 12 points and six rebounds.

WSU opens a three-game homestand Friday against Monmouth University at 5 p.m.

• Eastern Washington opened its season with a 64-51 nonconference loss to University of the Pacific in Cheney.

The Eagles (0-1) and Tigers were tied at halftime, but Eastern struggled offensively in the second half. After shooting 48 percent in the first half and hitting 8 of 9 free throws, the Eagles went cold after the break. Making 6 of 27 field-goal attempts and 5 of 11 from the line.

Carrie Ojeda had a game-high 14 points and a career-high 17 rebounds for EWU.

The Eagles visit Cal State Northridge on Thursday.

• Idaho battled back from an 11-point deficit to close within one point late, but Colorado pulled away for a 70-65 nonconference victory in Boulder, Colo.

Alyssa Charlston led four Vandals (0-2) in double-figures scoring with 16 points. Stacey Barr scored 15 with a game-high nine rebounds, Connie Ballestero scored 11 and Krissy Karr added 10.

Idaho hosts Portland on Friday in the Vandals’ home opener.

Junior hockey

The Spokane Braves took a 2-0 lead in the second period before allowing four consecutive Castlegar goals in a 5-3 loss to the Rebels at Eagles Ice-A-Rena.

Kyle Davis had a goal and an assist for Spokane (7-13-1-1), and Brycen Fisher and Bobby LaRue also lit the lamp for the Braves.

Castlegar was unsuccessful on all 12 power-play opportunities, while Spokane was 2 for 23.