Gonzaga wins title at tourney

Three Gonzaga University players scored in double figures on Saturday as the Bulldogs captured the Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev., with a 69-48 win over the University of Northern Colorado.

Gonzaga (3-5) set the tone for the game in the first 2 minutes as Anne Bailey helped the Bulldogs jump to a 9-1 lead. Bailey connected for a pair of jumpers and a 3-pointer to score seven of Gonzaga’s first nine points and finished with 14 points to earn all-tournament honors.

Stephanie Hawk was named the tournament MVP with an eight-point, six-rebound effort. Hawk scored a career-high 28 during Friday night’s opening-round win over Northwestern State University.

“The University of Idaho suffered a 66-44 defeat at the hands of Drexel University in the first round of the Lady Pirate Invitational in Greenville, N.C.

Drexel made 11 of 18 shots from 3-point range and shot 53.1 percent from the floor to advance to the title game.

Leilani Mitchell led the Vandals (2-3) with 13 points and Emily Faurholt was the only other Vandal in double figures with a season-low 11 points. Faurholt had just six shots and was 4 of 5 from the free-throw line.

Idaho will face Southern in the tournament consolation game today.

“Linfield rallied from double-digit deficits in each half and topped Whitworth 70-65 in Northwest Conference play at McMinnville, Ore.

The Wildcats improved to 6-0 overall, 2-0 in NWC. Whitworth (3-3, 0-2) was led by the team-high 14 points of Alida Bower. Holly Ridings added 11 points for Whitworth.

“Lane (Ore.) Community College downed Community Colleges of Spokane 78-66 in the Everett Community College Women’s Classic Tournament.

Sarah Scates led CCS with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Top 25

(15) Arizona St. 78, W. Kentucky 64: At Tempe, Ariz., Amy Denson scored 18 points for the Sun Devils (6-1) in the championship game of the Wells Fargo Holiday Classic.

Kristen Kovesdy added 10 points and 14 rebounds for ASU, which also got 12 points from Emily Westerberg.

(4) Ohio State 66, Boston College 61: At Boston, Marscilla Packer scored 18 points, including a key 3-pointer in overtime, to lift the Buckeyes (5-0) past the Eagles (6-2).

(6) Rutgers 76, San Jose St. 64: At Iowa City, Iowa, Cappie Pondexter scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Scarlet Knights (4-0) over the Spartans (2-2) in the opening round of the Hawkeye Challenge.

Rutgers advances to today’s championship game against host Iowa, a 79-57 winner over Vermont.

(10) Minnesota 78, Nebraska 70: At Minneapolis, Jamie Broback scored a season-high 22 points to lead the Golden Gophers (5-1) past the Huskers (2-3).

(14) DePaul 65, (22) Purdue 54: At Chicago, Khara Smith scored 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting and had 11 rebounds and five steals for the Demon Deacons (7-0) as they beat the Boilermakers (4-2).

Florida 58, (18) Temple 55: At Philadelphia, Dalila Eshe scored 20 points to lead the Gators (5-1) in their upset of the Owls (6-1).

(20) Oklahoma 107, Oral Roberts 76: At Stillwater, Okla., Erin Higgins scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half to help the Sooners (7-1) pull away against the Golden Eagles (3-2) at the Bertha Teague Classic.

(23) UCLA 76, Clemson 63: At Clemson, S.C., Noelle Quinn and Lisa Willis combined for 36 points as the Bruins (4-2) defeated the Tigers (2-6).

(25) Utah 63, Loyola Marymount 47: At Salt Lake City, Kim Smith had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Utes (4-1) past the Lions (1-5).