Women’s basketball notes: 4OT thriller proves invaluable for GU

Basketball, as a sport, rarely gets more entertaining than the four-overtime opus played by the Gonzaga women’s basketball team last Saturday against San Francisco.

Coach Lisa Fortier routinely puts her team through last-second situations in practice to prepare for all the scenarios that could arise.

“But we had many many opportunities on Saturday when it was the real thing,” she said. “Practicing for what could happen is one thing, but to experience it first hand is another. It was a really, really good opportunity for us.”

The Bulldogs and Dons traded the lead 21 times. Both teams had multiple chances to win and failed. After hitting a 3-pointer to give Gonzaga a 2-point lead with 30 seconds in regulation, Shaniqua Nilles missed a free throw with 8 seconds left that would have ended the game.

“It’s one of those games I will never forget in a negative way because I had a chance to seal the deal and didn’t,” Nilles said after the game. “But I’ll also never forget it in a positive way because we fought and came out with a win.”

San Francisco players missed two layups in the final 8 seconds of the first overtime. The Zags’ Lindsay Sherbert hit a layup with 9 seconds remaining in the second overtime before the Dons’ Zhane Dikes missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Gonzaga’s Elle Tinkle missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 18 seconds left in the third overtime before San Francisco’s Aundrea Gordon nailed a 3-pointer to force the fourth overtime.

But in the final 5 minutes, Fortier turned to freshman guard Emma Stach, who scored seven of her 11 points in the peroid to seal the 91-84 victory.

“Keani (Albanez), and Georgia (Stirton) and Sunny (Greinacher) all needed some breaks,” Fortier said. “We had to decide, ‘Do we go with someone who had a lot of experience or someone who has fresh legs?’ Emma was clearly capable. She kind of solidified that win for us.”

West Coast rises

The West Coast Conference has five teams that could end the season with 20 wins or more.

As expected, Gonzaga (41) has the highest RPI, which is used to rank teams based on wins and losses and strength of schedule.

Pacific (56), which is tied with St. Mary’s (58) for fourth place in the league, has the next highest RPI.

Second-place BYU has an RPI of 66 and third-place San Diego is 77th.

“We look at it as far as where teams are and where the conference is in the standings,” Fortier said. “It shows that the conference is getting better.”

Fortier said she uses the numbers and the four-overtime win over San Francisco (RPI 146) as ways to get her point across to the players as they prepare for road games against Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine.

“That keeps you sharp,” she said. “You can’t have any mistakes or let-downs because any one of them can beat you.”

Cougar hoop dreams

Coming off last-second losses to both Oregon schools, Washington State finds itself tied for eighth place in the Pac-12 with a 4-8 conference record.

Last year, the Cougars reached the postseason (WNIT) for the first time since 1991 after WSU scratched out a 9-9 conference record.

To reach that same goal, the Cougars would have to beat Colorado and Utah on the road, split the two games against Washington and beat USC and UCLA at home to again reach .500 in the conference.

But coach June Daugherty believes her team still has a shot.

“To me, our goals are right there in front of us,” Daugherty said. “We have every opportunity to achieve those. It’s too easy to get caught up in numbers. We have to concentrate on improving.”

Daugherty said the team continues to adjust to the loss of top rebounder Shalie Dheensaw, who is out for the year after hurting a knee in the closing moments of the first loss to Oregon State.

“Right now, we are going through an adjustment period. We are getting a better identity with what we want to do with our rotations,” she said. “I see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have to keep explaining it to our team so they see it, too.”

The Cougars gained momentum with early-season wins over then-No. 22 Dayton, and then-No. 10 Maryland. But Washington State has not been able to carry the momentum forward into conference play.

Before his Ducks edged the Cougars, former Gonzaga coach Kelly Graves said he thought the Cougars could still make the postseason.

“No question, I think this is the year they need to get to the tournament,” Graves said. “But they need a couple big wins in the conference to improve their resume.”

Currently with an RPI of 59, Washington State has little margin for error.

“When shots don’t fall at the end of the game, it’s tough and disappointing, but you move on to the next week,” Daugherty said. “What’s important is that you put it behind you and keep battling.”

Eastern soars

After dispatching both Montana State and Big Sky-leading Montana in Cheney last week, the Eastern Washington Eagles hit the road this week hoping to continue their winning ways.

First up is a chance to avenge a home loss to Sacramento State.

The Hornets came to Cheney on Jan. 18 and stung the Eagles 73-67 on the front end of a four-game losing skid.

The Hornets remain tied for second place in the Big Sky despite an overall record below .500 (10-12). With the two wins over the Montana schools, the Eagles (RPI 167) improved to 6-4 in conference and currently are in fourth place.

Vandal debacle

The Idaho women’s basketball team hasn’t won two consecutive games since last year, when it beat Southeast Missouri State and Lewis-Clark State College in December.

The same team that won 25 games and went 15-1 last season in the Western Athletic Conference, currently resides in 11th place in the 12-team Big Sky standings.

After losing to both Montana and Montana State at home last week, the Vandals (RPI 208) go on the road this week to play Portland State and Sacramento State.