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Bulldogs Host Second-Place Portland Sunday
Feb. 6, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format
Game No. 24 - PORTLAND
LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE: All home Gonzaga University women's basketball contests can be seen live on CBS College Sports all-access through GoZags.com. Check out the women's basketball schedule page for the link to the video broadcast. Gametracker is also available for all home games and can be accessed at GoZags.com ON THE RADIO: Gonzaga University will have all regular-season home games broadcast on the radio this season as Steve Myklebust returns for his fifth year of calling the action. Each game will be broadcast on either KGA 1510 AM or KJRB 790 AM in Spokane with a pre-game show 20-minutes prior to tip. Games will also be available on the internet at GoZags.com. TICKET INFORMATION: Single game tickets to Gonzaga University women's basketball can be purchased through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT (7328), TicketsWest.com, at any TicketsWest outlet, or at the McCarthey Athletic Center Ticket Office, Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Women's Basketball Ticket Prices are as follows: $8-Reserved, $5-General Admission Adult; $3-General Admission Child (12 and under), or Senior (65 and over); Gonzaga Students, Faculty & Staff are free with a valid Gonzaga ID. SCOUTING THE PILOTS: The University of Portland currently holds a 12-10 overall mark and a 5-2 record in West Coast Conference action. Big wins over both Saint Mary's College and the University of San Diego this past weekend helped the Pilots claim sole possession of second place in the WCC standings. UP is off to its best start in conference play since the 1996-97 team opened the league slate at 7-0. That squad would finish with a perfect 14-0 WCC record and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Portland's 5-2 league record is the fifth best beginning to league play since the Pilots joined the WCC in women's hoops in 1987-88. PORTLAND'S GANNIS NAMED WCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: After her breakout weekend in California, University of Portland freshman Alexis Gannis was named the WCC's Player of the Week. It's was the first such honor for Gannis and the first for the Pilots this season. On Thursday, Gannis was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field and scored a career-high 20 points to help UP defeat host San Diego 74-66. Gannis didn't let up on Saturday with 13 more points and a career-best eight rebounds during a dramatic, last-second 64-63 win at Saint Mary's. She shot 75.0 percent (15-for-20) and averaged 16.5 points and 5.0 rebounds during the weekend to help Portland improve upon its best start in WCC play since the 1996-97 season. ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST PORTLAND: Gonzaga University has won 16 straight games against the University of Portland and owns a 31-26 advantage in the all-time series. Portland's last win against Gonzaga came in Spokane in 2002. The Bulldogs are 17-9 all-time against the Pilots in Spokane. In its first meeting this season, Gonzaga earned a 60-49 victory over Portland at the Chiles Center. The 11-point victory was the Zags smallest margin of victory in West Coast Conference action this season. Vandersloot was the catalyst during the first match-up scoring a game-high 19 points. BREAKING THE 100-POINT BARRIER: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team has scored 100 points on two different occasions this season. The Bulldogs opened the year with a 101-44 victory against Eastern Oregon University and broke 100 in their last game, a 109-73 victory at the University of San Diego. The 109 points was the highest point total scored by the Zags since the 1985 season when they defeated Seattle Pacific University 111-84 and ranks ninth in the country for total points in a game. The 109 points is also the most points scored in a West Coast Conference game. US International previously held the record scoring a 108 points against Loyola Marymount University on Feb. 21, 1986. PESKY NUMBER EIGHT: Gonzaga University women's basketball has been nearly perfect in West Coast Conference play over the past four seasons, only losing five games. The only hiccup for the Zags has been the first game of the second half of WCC action; the eighth overall conference match. In each of the past three seasons, Gonzaga has lost its eighth conference game. In 2005-06 the Zags dropped a 74-52 decision at Santa Clara University to start the second half of WCC action. In 2006-07, GU again dropped its eighth game of the WCC season; a 70-56 setback to Pepperdine University at the McCarthey Athletic Center, to break its perfect 7-0 mark. Last year, the Zags were tripped up again, falling 75-60 at Loyola Marymount University to again break their 7-0 record. BIG WINS: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team, who holds a perfect 7-0 mark in West Coast Conference, is winning its WCC contests by an average of 23.1 points per game. The Bulldogs smallest margin of victory in a WCC game this season was 11, 60-49 at the University of Portland. The Zags largest margin of victory in conference is 36, 109-73 at the University of San Diego. LOOKING FOR NUMBER FIVE: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team is looking to capture its fifth-straight West Coast Conference regular-season championship and second WCC Tournament title in three years. The Bulldogs, who are 51-5 over the past four WCC seasons, are coming off a 13-1 WCC campaign in 2007-08. Of the five losses during the past four seasons, two have been to both Pepperdine University and Loyola Marymount University, while one came against Santa Clara University. Last year's lone loss was at LMU. SCHAEFER INJURED: Gonzaga University women's basketball senior Jami Schaefer, formerly Bjorklund, will be out at least six weeks with a knee injury suffered during the Bulldogs 67-38 victory over the University of Wyoming, Dec. 22. Schaefer, who was chasing down a loose ball in the first half, tripped and fell into the media table. She left the game and received eight stitches in the webbing of her right hand. After further examination, a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in her right knee was noticed. SOLD OUT: The Gonzaga University women's basketball contest against the University of Tennessee Dec. 30 at the McCarthey Athletic Center was the first Bulldog women's basketball game to be played in front of a sold out crowd. Six thousand fans braved winter weather to watch GU do battle with the two-time defending national champions. The largest crowd for a Zags contest at the McCarthey Athletic Center prior to the Lady Vols contest was Feb. 26, 2005 when 5,825 fans showed up for a the Bulldogs game against University of Portland. BOWMAN MAKES ANOTHER PRESTIGIOUS LIST: Gonzaga University women's basketball player Heather Bowman was named to the Naismith Trophy Early Watch List presented by AT&T as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Bowman, a junior forward averaging 19.3 points and 8.8 rebounds for the Bulldogs this season, became the inaugural Zag to be named to this list. The Naismith Trophy watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2008-09 college basketball season. The watch list does not include incoming freshmen, although those student-athletes will be considered in the first vote in February, 2009. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2009 NCAA Women's Final Four in St. Louis, MO. FIRST COLLEGIATE DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Freshman Kelly Bowen, a starting forward on the Gonzaga University women's basketball team, collected her first collegiate double-double in the Bulldogs 91-63 victory at Saint Mary's College, Jan. 29. The Aussie finished with 17 points, tying her career-high, and brought down a game-high 10 boards. Bowen, who has started the last 12 contests for the Zags, is averaging 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in West Coast Conference action. THE NUMBER NINETEEN: As a team, Gonzaga University women's basketball has dished out 19 total assists in each of the last four contests. Courtney Vandersloot has been the assist leader in each contest, finishing with six, nine, eight and 11, respectively. OFF THE BENCH: Sophomore Claire Raap has played a vital role off the bench for Gonzaga University this season. Raap is averaging 12.5 minutes per contest for the Zags and is shooting a team-best 57.9 percent (44-of-76) from the field. Her shooting percentage in West Coast Conference games is even better. The forward has hit a smoking 70.8 percent (17-of-24) of her shots. In the Bulldogs 109-73 victory at the University of San Diego, Raap came off the bench to score a career-high 13 points in 11 minutes of action. SCHAEFER A TOP SENIOR: Senior Jami Schaefer was named a candidate for the 2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Thirty senior male and female NCAA college basketball players were announced to the 2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, presented annually to an NCAA Division I student-athlete in nine sports. Based on criteria focusing on the "Four C's" of classroom, character, community and competition, the award winners will be selected by national balloting of head basketball coaches, national media and college basketball fans. Bowman Named To Preseason Wooden Award List: Gonzaga University women's basketball junior Heather Bowman became the inaugural Bulldog player to be named to the preseason Women's Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year trophy as the 30 student-athletes for 2008-09 were announced by Richard "Duke" Llewellyn, Wooden Award Chairman and founder. The list is composed of 30 student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for college basketball's most prestigious honor. BOWMAN AND VANDERSLOOT AMONG TOP WCC RETURNEES: Heading the group of Gonzaga University returners are 2008 WCC Player of the Year Heather Bowman and Newcomer of the Year Courtney Vandersloot. Bowman and Vandersloot were tabbed by the West Coast Conference coaches as one of the top 10 returnees this season. Bowman led the WCC in scoring at 20.1 points per game in just her second year in the league and was third in the conference in rebounding at 8.6 per game. Vandersloot will enter the year as the conferences steals (62) leader and led the team in assists (191). RECEIVING VOTES IN THE ESPN/USA TODAY POLL: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team jumped two spots and are now just two spots away from breaking into the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Top 25 poll, released Tuesday. The Bulldogs received 18 votes this week, down one vote from last week's poll, but hurdled two schools into the second slot of institutions who are also receiving votes. Middle Tennessee State University, who received 19 votes, is the only school ahead of GU. RECEIVING VOTES IN THE AP POLL: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team is one of 11 schools also receiving votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25. The Bulldogs garnered five vote this week. WHAT'S IN A NAME?: When looking at the Gonzaga University women's basketball roster some may wonder what happened to Bulldog Jami Bjorklund. Don't fret, the senior guard from Spokane is still on the squad, she is just going by a different name. Bjorklund was married to Drew Schaefer this past August and is now going by her married name - Jami Schaefer. CAREER NIGHT: Courtney Vandersloot scored a career-high 32 points in the Bulldogs 80-77 setback to Marquette University in the first round of the WBCA Classic. Vandersloot joined nine other former Bulldogs in the 30-Point Club. She was six points off a single-game record, as Amy Simpson scored 38 points against Lewis-Clark State Feb. 1, 1983. The previous Zag to score 30 or more points, prior to Vandersloot scoring 32, was junior Heather Bowman who tallied 30 against Santa Clara on Feb. 28, 2008. NEARING 1,000 POINTS: Senior guard Jami Schaefer is closing in on 1,000 career points. Schaefer has scored 924 total points at Gonzaga University and only needs 76 more to become the 14th Bulldog all-time to score 1,000 or more points. CRASHING THE BOARDS: Gonzaga University junior Vivian Frieson grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds at the University of San Francisco Jan. 17 to help the Zags secure their 21-point victory. Frieson, who was one shy of tying her career-high, grabbed five offensive boards and 10 defensive boards in the Bulldogs third West Coast Conference victory of the season. Frieson has recorded double-digit rebounds in five contests this season. ZAGS KNOCK OFF RANKED OPPONENT: Heather Bowman scored 18 points to lead Gonzaga University to a 69-62 upset over then-No. 15/16 University of Virginia in the WBCA Classic. The win secured the Bulldogs the WBCA Classic title. The victory against Virginia was the first over an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) school in three tries and the second-ever over a ranked opponent. The Bulldogs only other win over a top ranked team was Nov. 24, 2006 when they defeated then-No. 19 UCLA 62-57 at the Rainbow Wahine Tournament. WBCA ALL-TOURNAMENT: Junior Heather Bowman and classmate Vivian Frieson both were named to the WBCA Classic All-Tournament squad after leading the Gonzaga University women's basketball team to a 2-1 record. Bowman also was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Bowman averaged 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest, while Frieson averaged 9.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. NATIONAL STATISTICS - INDIVIDUALS: Heather Bowman and Courtney Vandersloot, of the Gonzaga University women's basketball team, all are among the nations leaders in NCAA Division I statistics. Bowman is 18th in scoring at 19.9 per game, 48th in free throw percentage (83.2) and 65th in field goal percentage at 49.5. Vandersloot is third in assists per game at 7.4 and 27th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.88). NATIONAL STATISTICS - TEAM: The Gonzaga University women's basketball team is ranked in the Top 30 of the NCAA Division I statistics in eight categories. The Bulldogs are 13th in scoring offense (75.0), 15th in turnover margin (5.22), 16th in scoring margin (15.9), 17th in assists per game (16.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.03), 18th in won-lost percentage (82.6), 23rd in free throw percentage (74.8) and 29th in steals per game (11.0). SIXTH DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Junior Vivian Frieson posted her sixth career double-double on Jan. 17 against Loyola Marymount University. Frieson helped Gonzaga University to a 83-58 victory with a 15 point, 13 rebound performance. It was her second double-double in three games as she scored 10 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, ony board shy of tying her career-high, in GU's 63-42 victory at the University of San Francisco, Jan. 17. The forward, who didn't have any double-doubles as a freshman, had her first two late in the season as a sophomore. Frieson had 12 points and 11 rebounds against Pepperdine University in the Zags opening game of the West Coast Conference Tournament. She then posted a 10 point, 11 rebound performance at the University of Colorado, in the second round of the WNIT. Frieson's first double-double of her junior season was a 12 points, 11 rebound performance against the University of Utah. Her other double-double this season was a 10 point, 10 rebound output against Saint Joseph's on Jan. 2. PICKING POCKETS: Gonzaga University junior Vivian Frieson was a big factor in why the Bulldogs defeated the University of Washington 64-59 on Nov. 16. Frieson finished the contest with a career-high 10 steals. The forward, who was playing in her hometown of Seattle, had five steals in each half. It is the single-highest steal total during head coach Kelly Graves' tenure. For the season, Frieson has 48 steals to her credit. DOUBLE-DIGIT ASSISTS: Sophomore Courtney Vandersloot has recorded five double-figure assists contests this season, including two in West Coast Conference action. Vandersloot dished out 10 assists against Utah Valley University on Nov. 19 and then had a career-high 13 assists versus Montana State University, Nov. 21. Those two games were also double-doubles for the point guard as she finished with 15 and 19 points, respectively. Vandersloot then had 10 assists against then-No. 8 Tennessee Dec. 30. She also scored 13 points in GU's 19-point setback. Her two double-figure assist outing in WCC play came at the University of San Francisco where she had 10 assists and at the University of San Diego where she collected 11. Vandersloot is averaging 7.4 assists per contest; tops in the conference and third most in the nation. INJURY REPORT: Junior sharpshooter Tiffanie Shives had microfracture surgery on her right knee on Monday, Dec. 15 and will be out for the rest of the season. Shives was averaging 10.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists before her injury. She was also the Bulldogs leading three-point shooter, sinking 19-of-48. BREAKING INTO BULLDOG CAREER RECORD BOOK: Sophomore point guard Courtney Vandersloot is fifth in the Gonzaga University women's basketball career record book for total assists. Vandersloot, who finished her freshman campaign with 191 assists, has dished out 156 this season for a total of 347. Vandersloot is also just the fifth player in Bulldog history to dish out 300 or more assists during her career.
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