Jill Barta stars as GU women rout Portland

After dropping five of six to close out January and falling to fifth in the West Coast Conference standings, Gonzaga has found its go-to scorer and team identity in February.

Jill Barta poured in 27 points and GU outrebounded the Pilots 37-20 in the Zags’ 86-51 rout over Portland on Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center, their third straight win.

The Zags finished with 16 offensive rebounds and had 23 second chance points to the Pilots’ four, which was instrumental in the Zags shooting 55.4 percent from the floor.

“Our field-goal percentage wasn’t bad, but our percentage keeps going up and up and up if we can get on the offensive glass and get second and third opportunities,” head coach Lisa Fortier said.

Corralling offensive boards and generating second chance points is key for the Zags moving forward in conference play.

“It’s always been an emphasis,” Barta said. “We are bigger than everyone in our conference, so we have to go up and get them.”

Barta was 9 of 13 from the field and was perfect from both 3-point range (2 of 2) and the free-throw line (7 of 7). According to Fortier, it was her most well-rounded game of the season.

“I thought Jill did a really good job today of making strong moves to the basket,” Fortier said. “Sometimes she relies too much on her scoop shot … today she caught it, made second pivots and everything was toward the basket.

Since senior guard Elle Tinkle went down with a torn meniscus in December, Barta has spearheaded the Zags offense, scoring 14.2 points per contest in West Coast Conference play and averaging 20.6 points in GU’s last five games. She has registered four games with 20 or more points.

“She has a lot of confidence and it boosts our confidence as well,” freshman guard Zhane Templeton said.

Barta scored nine of the Zags’ first 11 points, pacing their 11-0 run after the opening tip. The redshirt freshman finished the first half with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

“I think it showed today she is a little bit more in her [starting] role,” Fortier said. “She’s been asked to score for us all year long.”

The Pilot defense was forced to crash down on Barta in the paint, opening up shots for 3-point shooters. GU finished 8 of 15 from beyond the arc.

“We did a really good job of going inside-out, which was one of our keys to the game,” Fortier said. “That really opened up the outside perimeter shooting for us.”

Fortier said GU’s strong rebounding and play of defense was crucial in establishing a resounding lead.

“I thought we weren’t perfect offensively, but we were really doing a good job on the glass and rebounding the ball when we missed,” she said.

Shelby Cheslek was two rebounds away from her eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and eight rebounds. Zhane Templeton had 12 points and Chelsea Waters added 10 off the bench. Georgia Stirton led the Zags with six assists.

Kaylie Van Loo and Ellie Woerner led the Pilots with 13 points apiece.

The Zags remain in fifth place in the WCC, but are only 1 1/2 games off second place after San Diego fell to San Francisco and Santa Clara lost to BYU on Saturday. GU takes on Saint Mary’s on the road in its next contest.

Notes

Foriter said forward Kiara Kudron is week-to-week with a wrist injury