Anderson’s fifth double-double leads Gonzaga women past Portland

They haven’t always played like defending champions this season, but the Gonzaga women’s basketball team reached the halfway point of the West Coast Conference season with a chance to defend its title.

Despite a 10-12 overall record, the Bulldogs improved to 5-2 in the WCC by defeating Portland 67-60 before a season-high crowd of 2,582 Sunday afternoon at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

“I’m happy that we’re 5-2, we’re right in the thick of it,” GU coach Kelly Graves said. “We’re playing well at home, relatively, which ultimately, if we keep winning our home games, we have a shot at postseason play.”

Ashley Anderson led the way with her fifth double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds to go with a career-high 24 points. Freshman Jami Bjorklund added 12 points and Stephanie Hawk had 11 but only made 4 of 10 field goals and 3 of 10 free throws.

“We know in the long run our preseason games will help us,” Anderson said. “When league play started, we were 0-0, and we knew that’s what counted.”

Anderson entered the game averaging 9.3 points but 16 in league play in six more minutes to help fill the void for the absence of senior forward Anne Bailey, who is out with mono.

“I don’t know if I turned it on in league, but it was a challenge when Anne went down, and I knew I had to step up,” she said. “I think I’m more aggressive, even in double teams, and I don’t get passive. And when I step up my defense, my offense (follows).”

Three Pilots scored in double figures, topped by Whitney Anderson’s 25. Senior Rose Sauer, a graduate of Newport High School, had 11.

Separation came when Gonzaga went on a 13-3 run early in the first half for a 23-13 lead, though “run” may be kind. After UP’s Meagan Bermingham hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to tie the game, the Zags only missed two shots but had eight turnovers. Portland went 1-6 with seven turnovers in the 6:45 dry spell.

Both teams almost had their season average in turnovers by halftime, but with 53.8 percent shooting, only GU was able to cash in. Gonzaga built a 35-23 lead with 17 points off 18 UP turnovers, and Anderson had 13 points. Portland scored four points after GU’s 13 turnovers.

The Pilots ended up with 29 turnovers, leading to 23 GU points as the Zags ended up shooting 45 percent. Gonzaga had 22 turnovers, but that only produced 16 Pilot points, and after building a 17-point lead with 5½ minutes left, the Bulldogs let Portland cut the deficit to single digits because they only made 17 of 31 free throws.

“At times we’ve played like the team we can be,” Anderson said. “We have to bring it every night and play 40 minutes.”

Notes: Add another name to the GU casualty list. Freshman point guard Sasha Polischuck has a stress fracture in her right foot and is wearing a boot. Redshirt freshman forward Sarah Schramm is having season-ending surgery on her right elbow today.

Gonzaga 67, Portland 60

Portland (4-16, 1-6)—Sauer 3-5 3-4 11, Warren 2-5 2-2 6, Grant 8-19 5-8 25, Burris 0-4 0-0 0, Graner 0-1 0-0 0, Wassom 0-0 0-0 0, Bermingham 6-10 0-1 13, Stratton 1-1 2-2 5, Sievers 0-5 0-0 9, Rowe 0-0 0-1 0, Totals 20-50 12-18 60.

Gonzaga (10-12, 5-2)—Anderson 7-11 10-12 24, Hawk 4-10 3-10 11, Harris 4-8 0-0 9, Ridenour 1-7 2-2 5, Bjorklund 4-7 1-2 12, Laney 1-3 1-4 4, Hassett 0-0 0-0 0, Renius 1-1 0-0 2, Prichard 0-2 0-0 0, Santos 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 22-49 17-31 67.

Halftime–Gonzaga 35, Portland 23. 3-point goals–Portland 8-17 (Sauer 2-4, Grant 4-9, Bermingham 1-3, Stratton 1-1), Gonzaga 6-16 (Harris 1-4, Ridenour 1-6, Bjorklund 3-3, Laney 1-2). Fouled out–Warren. Rebounds–Portland 30 (Sauer, Warren, Grant, Bermingham 5), Gonzaga 37 (Anderson 11). Assists–Portland 13 (Grant, Bermingham, Sievers 3), Gonzaga 11 (Harris 3). Total fouls–Portland 24, Gonzaga 16. A–2,582.