Gonzaga women bounce back to beat Rutgers at Vancouver Showcase

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Zykera Rice scored 16 points with five rebounds Friday and Gonzaga topped Rutgers 57-40 in the consolation semifinals of the Vancouver Showcase at the Convention Centre.

The Bulldogs face Western Kentucky in the tourney’s fifth-place game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

“Overall, I’m really proud of our team,” coach Lisa Fortier said via press release. “I think we battled them on the glass. They are such a great rebounding team. I’m happy with the way we finished the game for sure.”

Rice scored seven points in the first 10 minutes and finished 6 of 10 from the floor and 4 of 6 from the line for Gonzaga (5-1), which bounced back from its 81-65 loss to No. 1 Notre Dame on Thursday.

Chandler Smith and Katie Campbell added eight points each. LeeAnne Wirth and Jessie Loera scored six apiece.

Rutgers built a 20-13 lead with just more than 3 minutes left in the first half, but a layup by Melody Kempton (Post Falls) with 7 seconds remaining tied the game at 21 heading into the break.

The Zags used an 11-3 run early in the third quarter to take control. GU shot 54.5 percent and forced five turnovers in the frame. Gonzaga outscored Rutgers 15-9 in the final quarter and converted 11 of 12 at the line to cement the win.

Rutgers was led by Victoria Harris with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Charise Wilson chipped in nine points.