Gonzaga women fall after fourth-quarter run by BYU

Kalani Purcell scored 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting and BYU used a 15-0 fourth-quarter run to beat Gonzaga 71-63 on Saturday in Provo, Utah, in the West Coast Conference regular-season finale for both teams.

The Zags led by six to start the fourth quarter, but could not recover from the run.

Kiara Kudron led Gonzaga (23-6, 14-4) with 14 points and nine rebounds. Zykera Rice scored 13 off the bench with six rebounds. Elle Tinkle had six points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots, a career high.

BYU started the fourth quarter on a 19-3 run through the first six minutes for their first lead of the half, 61-51. The Zags cut it to seven with 57 seconds left on two Tinkle free throws. Williams hit two 3s, and finished with nine points, but Gonzaga got no closer than seven down the stretch.

The Bulldogs head to Las Vegas on Friday for the quarterfinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament against the winner of the Nos. 8/9 game.