GU women crush Waves

MALIBU, Calif. – Stephanie Hawk had a double-double, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and the Gonzaga women’s basketball team rolled to a 58-35 victory over Pepperdine Sunday at Firestone Fieldhouse in West Coast Conference action.

The Bulldogs, who have won three straight, picked up key wins over conference opponents, as Pepperdine (8-9, 1-1) and Loyola Marymount, who Gonzaga defeated on Friday, were picked in the WCC Preseason Poll to finish tied for first.

Gonzaga (10-8, 2-0), which held a slight 11-10 lead halfway through the first half, was able to rattle off nine-straight points to break open a 20-10 advantage.

Freshman Vivian Frieson made two free throws, senior Hawk hit two jumpers and sank one of two free throws, and freshman Heather Bowman, who finished with 14 points, also made a jumper to give the Bulldogs the 10-point edge.

Pepperdine closed out the half with a 7-3 run to cut Gonzaga’s halftime lead to 23-17.

Hawk and Bowman paced the Bulldogs in the first half scoring eight points each. Hawk also dominated on defense, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking four shots.

Gonzaga used a 12-2 run over the first six minutes of the second half to break open the contest. Senior Katy Ridenour found her stroke during this run, draining two of her game-high three 3-pointers.

Jasmane Clarendon led the Waves with 11 points while teammate Teiosha George added nine.