Jami Schaefer, bottom left, holds the WCC Championship trophy after she and her Gonzaga teammates beat San Diego 66-55 in Las Vegas on Monday, March 9, 2009. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Jamie Schaefer of Gonzaga, left, holds the WCC Championship trophy with her teammates after they beat San Diego on Monday March 9, 2009, in Las Vegas. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
The Gonzaga women wear the shirts of winners and hold the title of WCC Champions as they beat San Diego 66-55 to advance to the NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 9, 2009. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Tournament MVP Courtney Vandersloot, center front, and her Gonzaga teammates wear winners shirts after the WCC Championship game Monday, March 9, 2009, in Las Vegas. The scoreboard reflects their 66-55 victory over San Diego. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Spike, the Gonzaga University mascot, signs autographs for kids in the Orleans Arena on Monday, March 9, 2009, before the Zag women play San Diego in their championship game. Zappos.com, an online shoe company and one of the tournament sponsors, gave free shoes to Clark County (NV) school children and brought them to the game for free. The kids could only be sixth-graders or younger because of NCAA regulations on recruiting. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's #21 Courtney Vandersloot, left, tries to hold San Diego's #24 Sam Child out of rebounding position during the WCC Championship game Monday, March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga #21 Courtney Vandersloot, left, tries to hold San Diego's #24 Sam Child out of rebounding position on a shot by #21 Amber Sprague of San Diego, rear right. Gonzaga went on to win the WCC Championship game Monday, March 9, 2009, in Las Vegas 66-55. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's #12 Vivian Frieson, rear left, and Kiva Herman of San Diego crash to the floor and into the Gonzaga bench while scrambling for a loose ball during the WCC Championship game Monday, March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga players #44 Kelly Bowen, left, and #30 Heather Bowman squeeze a San Diego player out of rebound position early in the WCC championship game Monday, March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga #21 Courtney Vandersloot, left, gets beat on a fast break as San Diego's #2 Dominique Conners scores during early action at the WCC championship game Monday, March 9, 2009, in Las Vegas. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's #21 Courtney Vandersloot walks out to meet fellow starters #11 Janelle Bekkering, #32 Jami Schaefer, and #30 Heather Bowman at the start of the WCC Championship game Monday, March 9, 2009, in Las Vegas. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Jamie Schaefer, of Gonzaga, right, high-fives players on the bench as they slowly pull out in front of San Diego. Gonzaga went on to win the WCC Championship game Monday, March 9, 2009, in Las Vegas 66-55. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Courtney Vandersloot, of Gonzaga, top, in white, battles Morgan Woodrow of San Diego for a loose ball during first-half action of the WCC Championship game in Las Vegas on Monday, March 9, 2009. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Fans hold signs supporting the Gonzaga women's team as they play San Diego for the WCC Championship in the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, March 9, 2009. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
From left, Jamie Schaefer, Courtney Vandersloot and Heather Bowman enjoy the last few seconds of Gonzaga's victory over San Diego in the WCC Championship game Monday, March 9, 2009, in Las Vegas. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga Coach Kelly Graves goes down the line doling out high fives to his players as they win the WCC Championship game Monday, March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Courtney Vandersloot, of Gonzaga, framed at center, huddles with her teammates at the end of the WCC championship game against San Diego on Monday, March 9, 2009. Gonzaga won 66-55 to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Vandersloot was named tournament MVP of the tournament. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga Coach Kelly Graves walks under an arch formed by his players as the team is presented with the WCC championship trophy Monday March 9, 2009. Gonzaga beat San Diego 66-55 to advance to the NCAA tournament. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
The Gonzaga bench and fans erupt as the WCC championship game buzzer sounds, signaling the Zags' victory over San Diego Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Heather Bowman of Gonzaga winds up flat on the floor after getting knocked down during a rebound battle Monday, March 9, 2009, in the WCC championship game against San Diego. Gonzaga won 66-55. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Kelly Bowen of Gonzaga, #44, fights through a tight check by San Diego's #3 Morgan Henderson during their game at the WCC tournament in Las Vegas on Monday, March 9, 2009. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Heather Bowman, of Gonzaga, top, dives onto the floor to battle Morgan Henderson of San Diego and is called for a foul during second-half action of the WCC Championship game in Las Vegas on Monday, March 9, 2009. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga Coach Kelly Graves shouts to his players as they play San Diego in the WCC Championship game Monday, March 9, 2009, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Gonzaga went on to a 66-55 win that puts them into the NCAA Tournament. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's Demetri Goodson (3) drives to the basket against Saint Mary's Omar Samhan during the first half of the West Coast Conference men's tournament championship NCAA college basketball game in Las Vegas tonight. (The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga #45 Will Foster swats away the shot of #50 Omar Samhan of St. Mary's during their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga fans prepare for the opening tip against St. Mary's for the WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. From left are Byron Reichert, Bryan Zerr, Tony Phillips, Scott Wagemans, Daniel Yee and Michael Sass. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Josh Heytvelt of Gonzaga ( left in white ) stretches out to deny #20 Diamon Simpson of St. Mary's a shot at the basket in first half action Monday March 9, 2009 at the WCC Championship game in the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Omar Samhan of St. Mary's ducks out of the way as Josh Heytvelt of Gonzaga slams a dunk over him during their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
A Gonzaga fan holds up a sign for their favorite player Austin Daye during the WCC Championship game at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Micah Downs of Gonzaga rises above the crowd to control a defensive rebound against St. Mary's during their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Austin Daye of Gonzaga ( right ) comes from behind #20 Diamon Simpson to block his shot during second half action during their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Austin Daye of Gonzaga uses his length to stretch around the St. Mary's defense and score in the second half of their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas had several amusing signs during the WCC Championship game between Gonzaga and St. Mary's Monday March 9, 2009. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Micah Downs of Gonzaga (center in white ) fights through two St. Mary's defenders for an offensive rebound in the second half during their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Josh Heytvelt of Gonzaga puts home a slam early in the second half to help the Zags pull away from St. Mary's during their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Jeremy Pargo of Gonzaga beats the St. Mary's defense down the floor for a fast break basket during their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Jeremy Pargo of Gonzga ( right in white ) beats Patrick Mills of St. Mary's to drive the lane during their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Sweat pours down the face of jeremy Pargo of Gonzaga as he waits at the end of the bench for the last seconds to tick off against St. Mary's during their WCC Championship game Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Micah Downs of Gonzaga holds the WCC Championship trophy after the win over St. Mary's Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Micah Downs of Gonzaga holds the WCC Championship trophy after the win over St. Mary's Monday March 9, 2009 in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga poses with the hardware after winning the WCC Championship at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas Monday March 9, 2009. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
The Gonzaga men's and women's basketball teams emerge victorious from the 2009 West Coast Conference tournament.
LAS VEGAS — Josh Heytvelt scored 17 points, Micah Downs added 12 points and 12 rebounds, and No. 12 Gonzaga romped into its 11th consecutive NCAA tournament with an 83-58 victory over Saint Mary’s and struggling star Patty Mills on Monday night in the West Coast Conference final.
Gonzaga put five players in double figures, including reserve forward Kelly Bowen's 15 points and a double-double by conference player of the year Courtney Vandersloot, to outlast sixth-seeded San Diego 66-55 and win the WCC Tournament championship Monday.