Jill Barta’s buzzer-beating layup lifts Gonzaga women over San Diego

Jill Barta’s cutting layup at the buzzer was the difference as Gonzaga (16-4, 7-2) came from behind late and edged San Diego (9-10, 3-6) 57-55 in West Coast Conference play in San Diego on Thursday.

The Zags stayed even with BYU (13-7, 7-2) atop the conference, which beat Santa Clara at home, 72-66 in double-overtime.

“Our team just hung around and kept ourselves in the game,” Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier said. “We never put our heads down. This team knows how to battle and battle and battle. I am really happy for our players. You have to be tough to win on the road and tonight we were.”

USD’s Katherine Hamilton (12 points) hit a pair of free throws to put the Toreros up 55-50 with 2:47 left, but did not score again.

Barta made 1 of 2 free throws 20 seconds later, then Laura Stockton sliced around a screen for a layup that made it 55-53 with 1:56 to go. After Hamilton missed a 3, Elle Tinkle’s layup in transition with 49 second left tied it.

Cori Woodward for San Diego missed a layup a few seconds later and after a Gonzaga timeout, Fortier subbed Barta, who dealt with foul issues, back in for the final offensive possession with 19 seconds left.

Barta finished with 15 points with four rebounds. Stockton added 14 points with five rebounds.

The Zags scored 38 points in the paint, boosted by seven from Emma Wolfram off the bench. Kiara Kudron led with nine rebounds and three assists.

Aubrey Ward-El led San Diego with 16 points while Hamilton finished with 12.

Gonzaga will host Pepperdine on Saturday at 2 p.m.