Bulldog women win 10th, sixth in a row

The Gonzaga University women’s basketball team continued the best start in school history by rolling past Denver 63-39 Friday afternoon at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gonzaga has won six straight to improve to 10-2. Denver is 2-9.

GU ran out to a 15-2 lead to open the game as Denver was held without a field goal for the first 10:33. Gonzaga built the margin to 28-8 with 4:01 left in the first half.

The Bulldogs limited the Pioneers to just 25 percent shooting and six field goals as they opened a 36-14 advantage. Gonzaga shot 48 percent for the first 20 minutes and held a 24-12 rebound advantage.

It was more of the same in the second half as Gonzaga pushed out to as high as a 27-point lead with 11:33 remaining on a jumper by Anne Bailey. The junior forward was one of three Gonzaga players to finish with 11 points. Raeanna Jewell and Stephanie Hawk also chipped in 11 as Gonzaga had 11 players play at least 12 minutes in the game.

“This was another good non-conference win for our team as we prepare for West Coast Conference action,” said coach Kelly Graves. “It was a good chance for some of our players who don’t normally see a lot of playing time to get into a game and play meaningful minutes.

“My only disappointment with the win was how we protected the ball with a big lead as we committed 16 second-half turnovers.”

The turnovers led to some easy Pioneers baskets as Denver shot 37 percent in the second half. Venice Adams was the top Denver player with 10 points. Gonzaga held Denver to 31 percent shooting for the game.

Gonzaga returns to action Monday with its final non-conference game of the regular-season against Sacramento State at 7 p.m. at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gonzaga 63, Denver 39

Denver (2-9) – Adams 5-11 0-1 10, Cyran 1-4 0-0 3, Whetten 2-8 2-2 7, Meyer 1-9 0-0 2, Bratton 1-5 3-4 5, Winter 2-6 0-3 4, Benham 4-8 0-2 8. Totals 16-51 5-12 39.

Gonzaga (10-2) – Burke 1-9 4-4 6, Hawk 4-5 3-4 11, Mathews 3-7 2-5 8, Laney 1-4 0-0 3, Jewell 5-12 0-0 11, Harris 2-2 0-0 4, Ridenour 0-3 0-2 0, Renius 1-1 0-0 2, Prichard 1-2 0-0 2, Bailey 5-5 1-2 11, Lecoultre 2-2 0-0 5. Totals 25-52 8-12 63.

Halftime – Gonzaga 36, Denver 14. 3-point goals – Denver 2-15 (Cyran 1-1, Whetten 1-6, Bratton 0-1, Winter 0-2, Meyer 0-5), Gonzaga 5-19 (Mathews 2-5, Lecoultre 1-1, Laney 1-3, Jewell 1-6, Hawk 0-1, Prichard 0-1, Ridenour 0-2). Rebounds – Denver 25 (Benham 6), Gonzaga 43 (Burke, Bailey 7). Assists – Denver 16 (Bratton 6), Gonzaga 21 (Mathews 8). Total fouls – Denver 12, Gonzaga 11. A – 941.