Slow start dooms the Zags
BOULDER, COLORADO _ Even with a terribly slow start and seemingly impossible defensive challenges, Gonzaga University women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves was convinced that with typical shooting the Bulldogs would have played Colorado to the wire Monday.
Instead, Gonzaga shot just 36.7 percent from the field, including 5 of 18 from the 3-point line, in an 82-68 loss in the second round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament at Coors Events Center.
Colorado (17-14) advances to play Villanova in the third round.
Gonzaga (25-9) ends a season it expected to end in the NCAA tournament following its fourth consecutive West Coast Conference regular-season title.
Yet after being upset by San Diego in the WCC tournament finals, GU settled for the WNIT and showed its prowess in an 81-60 first-round rout of UC Davis.
The Bulldogs reversed roles against Colorado, faltering in the opening minutes at both ends, missing shots badly while falling behind 27-11.
“You spot a good team a lead like that, especially on its home floor, it’s hard,” Graves said.
As Colorado cooled off from its 73.3-percent opening assault, Gonzaga gradually put behind its dismal 5-of-21 opening mark and found the net more often.
However, each time the Bulldogs put together of success at both ends, CU roared back, either with 3-point accuracy or a dominant low-post presence.
“At one point we were within four points and we just didn’t execute our offense,” said sophomore forward Heather Bowman of a late first-half surge. “We could never get over that hump.”
As Graves predicted, CU’s superior size and depth in the post was difficult to contain, particularly All-Big 12 center Jackie McFarland, who scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
And while the Bulldogs’ zone was designed to clog the middle, it left Brittany Spears and Bianca Smith to combine for eight 3-pointers, part of a 50.8 Colorado field-goal shooting mark.
“They shot better tonight than they normally do,” Graves said. “Yes, they were stroking the ball and we tried a whole bunch of different things defensively, but even still, I thought our defense was good enough.
“I thought, where we lost the game, was shooting. We’re a much better shooting team than that and our best two players really struggled. That happens and others tried to make it up.”
Bowman, the WCC player of the year, hit 7 of 11 from the field, but was held to 16 points, 4.3 below her average.
Courtney Vandersloot was 2 of 13 with six points, 4.7 below her average.
Vivian Frieson also struggled, making only 5 of 17 for 10 points. Her season average is 50.5 percent. The team average is 45.1.
“This has been a positive,” Bowman said. “We’re a very young team and these extra games give us experience in a tournament atmosphere, even though it is not the NCAA’s.”