Zags run streak to 7 straight
Gonzaga University women’s basketball fans are more familiar with names like Ashley and Anne, but the Bulldogs will have “Mo” on their side when they open West Coast Conference play this week.
The Bulldogs ended their pre-conference slate Monday night with their seventh straight win, 71-56 over Sacramento State at McCarthey Athletic Center.
GU, off to the best start in school history at 11-2, is 6-0 at home and 5-0 during a home stand that ends with WCC games against Santa Clara at 7 p.m. Thursday and Saint Mary’s at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Ashley Burke scored 11 of her game-high 17 points in the first half, including six in a 15-2 GU spurt to open the game. The Bulldogs held Sacramento State (4-7) without a basket the first six minutes.
Burke moved into a tie for sixth on the GU career list with 1,333.
“This was a good win heading into conference play,” said coach Kelly Graves. “I thought we played good stretches of basketball, and you can’t beat the type of success we had in converting baskets off assists. I think we are ready to get into WCC action on Thursday night.”
The Bulldogs had 28 assists, second all-time, on 31 baskets.
GU, which saw the Hornets claw to within eight points in the first half, opened 29-point margins on two occasions in the second half.
Dominique Harris added 11 points and Anne Bailey 10 for GU.
Gonzaga 71, Sacramento St. 56
Sacramento State (4-7) — Cadotte 2-4 4-6 8, Ciampi 5-10 1-2 12, Mollett 0-1 0-0 0, Sheehy 2-8 0-1 6, Alldrin 4-10 0-0 9, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Cherry 1-7 0-4 2, Calmettes 1-1 0-0 2, Brown 5-14 0-0 10, Heard 3-6 0-0 7. Totals 23-61 5-13 56.
Gonzaga (11-2) — Burke 8-9 1-3 17, Hawk 3-5 1-1 7, Mathews 1-6 0-0 3, Laney 1-4 0-0 2, Jewell 2-7 0-0 5, Harris 4-7 3-4 11, Kane 1-4, 0-0 2, Ridenour 0-2 2-2 2, Renius 3-5 0-0 6, Prichard 0-1 0-0 0, Bailey 5-8 0-1 10, Lecoultre 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 31-62 7-11 71.
Halftime–Gonzaga 37, Sacramento State 15. 3-point goals—Sacramento State 5-21 (Ciampi 1-1, Sheehy 2-6, Alldrin 1-3, Cherry 0-4, Brown 0-4, Heard 1-3). Gonzaga 2-17 (Mathews 1-5, Jewell 1-6, Harris 0-2, Kane 0-3, Prichard 0-1). Fouled out–None. Rebounds–Sacramento State 37 (Heard 6), Gonzaga 41 (Jewell 6). Assists–Sacramento State 13 (Alldrin 4), Gonzaga 28 (Mathews 7). Total fouls–Sacramento State 11, Gonzaga 13. A–611.