PACIFIC (11-11, 7-5 WCC) vs. GONZAGA (14-8, 9-2 WCC)
SATURDAY, FEB. 1 | SPOKANE, WASH. | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER (6,000)
ESPN+ | 101.5 FM
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
THE TIPOFF
– The Gonzaga women’s basketball stays home to welcome Pacific this Saturday, Feb. 1. The Bulldogs are coming off a 64-48 win over San Diego. Yvonne Ejim had 25 points while Claire O’Connor had 12.
– Ejim has a chance to make history in the record books. She currently has 2,128 career points and is 38 points away from breaking the all-time scoring record. She has recorded 33 double doubles in her career and has scored double digits in 64-straight games. She also ranks seventh in the nation in scoring with 469 points this season.
– Ejim was recently named an USBWA’s National Player of the Week. She was also named to the midseason Wooden Award and Becky Hammon Player of the Year watch lists.
– Bree Salenbien has made her return to the court for the first time since a knee injury sustained last February.
– Against LMU, Ejim broke the all-time rebounding record at Gonzaga. She now holds the record at Gonzaga for most rebounds and most made field goals in a career.
– Allie Turner has made a huge impact as a freshman already this season. She ranks first in the nation in three-pointers made (60) among freshmen and is averaging 13 points per game. Overall, she ranks 13th in the country and first in the WCC in made three-pointers.
– Claire O’Connor ranks second on the team in three pointers made with 35.
– Turner is the first true freshman to score 20+ points in multiple games since Heather Bowman (2006-07)
– Ejim ranks sixth in the nation in field goals made this season with 176. She now holds the all-time record at GU for most made field goals with currently 865.
– Ejim leads the Zags with 21.3 points a game, which ranks 10th in the country and first in the WCC. She also grabs an average of 8.6 rebounds a game this season to rank first in the conference and on the team. Her eighth double doubles this season ranks her 32nd in the nation and first in the conference.
– Gonzaga is shooting at 35.8% from beyond the arc to rank 29th nationally and first in the WCC.
– As a team, GU has a rebound margin of +9.7 and has an average of 39.2 rebounds a game.
– Head coach Lisa Fortier currently sits at 279-71 in her career. Among active Division I coaches, she is seventh in winning percentage at 79.7%.
– The Bulldogs were picked to finish first in the West Coast Conference in preseason polls for the third-straight season. Ejim and Maud Huijbens were named to the All-WCC Preseason Team.
THE SERIES
SERIES INFO: Gonzaga leads 22-5
LAST MEETING: Gonzaga won 72-61 on March 11, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the WCC Tourney Semis
STREAK: GU has won 17-straight games vs the Tigers and 21 of 24 since Pacific joined the WCC in 2014
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
– Liz Smith is the catalyst for that Tiger defense, averaging a league best 3.25 steals per game in January and is the only player in the conference with more than 20 total steals (26).
– Anaya James meanwhile has been the engine making the offense run in the month, ranking fifth with 16.25 points per game with a 49.5% shooting clip (second in the conference). And she’s doing more than scoring, ranking second in assists per game (4.63/game) and third in total assists (37).
– Pacific’s 6-2 record in the month of January was good for second best in the conference. Six wins are the most in any January during Davis’ tenure while two losses match the fewest of his tenure (2023-24).
Exciting News for Women’s Basketball Fans!
The Women’s Basketball Team will be facing off against Pacific for the first time this season. This highly anticipated match-up is sure to be a thrilling game, with both teams looking to secure a victory.
The WBB team has been putting in the work and showing great improvement throughout the season, making this game an exciting opportunity for them to showcase their skills and continue their winning streak.
Be sure to tune in and show your support for the Women’s Basketball Team as they take on Pacific in what is sure to be a competitive and exciting game. Let’s go WBB! #GoTeam #WBB #PacificGameFaceoff
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WBB, Pacific Conference, Women’s Basketball, First Time Matchup, WBB vs Pacific, College Basketball, Pacific Opponent, Season Matchup, Basketball Game, Sports Event
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