Gonzaga women take 12-game winning streak on the road
That 12-game winning streak is impressive, but the Gonzaga women aren’t gloating.
That’s because three of their last four regular-season games are on the road, including this week’s visit to San Francisco and Pacific.
Another incentive: payback. Last year, the Bulldogs hit low ebb on this very trip. First, they lost by 19 at USF – a team they had beaten 21 straight times – then fell in overtime at Pacific to drop out of the West Coast Conference race.
In their drive to win the WCC, the Zags (21-4 overall and 12-2 in the WCC) are taking it one game at a time, but they also have a rear-view mirror.
“Sometimes you do want revenge,” allowed guard Emma Stach, who promptly changed the subject and discussed the importance of “focusing on ourselves.”
According to coach Lisa Fortier, their biggest asset is self-confidence. That’s seen them through a recent three-game stretch that included one-point wins over Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s.
“That doesn’t mean everything, but it does mean something,” Fortier said. “The team doesn’t get into panic mode, even when the other people in the gym aren’t calm.”
That could be a reason the Zags are 5-1 in games decided by five points or less. GU has won three games where it grabbed the lead in the final 10 seconds this year.
Last year, Gonzaga was 2-6 in games decided by five points or less.
“We’re just in a better place right now,” Fortier said.
The Bulldogs also are in first place, holding a two-game lead on the WCC field with four games left. With two wins and the right scenario (it’s complicated) GU could clinch the top seed in the WCC tournament.
The work resumes Thursday night in the Bay Area against a Dons squad that GU handled 61-46 on Jan. 5 in Spokane. GU trailed 22-20 at halftime, but got a double-double from Kiara Kudron to begin their current 12-game winning streak.
USF (13-12 overall, 7-7 WCC) is getting 16.8 points and five rebounds from senior guard Rachel Howard, an preseason all-conference pick.
Last week junior forward Michaela Rakova earned conference player of the week honors after averaging 16.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting .577 (15-of-26) from the field.
On Saturday, GU is at Pacific, the last team to beat Gonzaga. On New Year’s Eve in Spokane, the Tigers shot 9-for-14 from the field in the fourth quarter to beat GU 65-63 and saddle the Zags with their first 0-2 start in WCC play since Kelly Graves’ first season back in 2000-01.
After studying film from that game, Fortier said the key to slowing down the Tigers (9-16 and 5-9) is defending dribble penetration.
“When a team is penetrating, you sometimes forget that there’s a shooter out there. We have to make size a bigger advantage for us.”