STOCKTON, Calif. – In a game that came down to the final seconds, the Pacific women's basketball team (7-12, 2-6) fell by one possession to #16 Gonzaga (18-2, 8-0). The 81-78 final was punctuated by the Tigers outscoring the Bulldogs 30-22 in the fourth quarter.
Junior Liz Smith led the team in multiple categories, including points (21), threes made (5) and minutes played (37). Sophomore Anaya James scored 18 points on seven field goals. Sophomore Elizabeth Elliott added 15 points, missing only one shot. Elliott grabbed six rebounds, tied with senior Sam Ashby for the team lead. Ashby dished out a team-high three assists.
It was all Zags early, scoring the game's first 12 points to take a big early lead. Pacific responded quickly, going 7-7 from the field and 3-3 from three to go on a 17-8 run and cut a double-digit Gonzaga lead down to just three.
The Bulldogs scored 25 points in the second quarter, their highest mark of the game. Thanks to 62.5% shooting from the field, the Zags went into the half up by 14.
The Tigers outscored the Zags in the third quarter, led by Elliott scoring her first eight points of the game, while Smith added five in the quarter. A Smith three late in the quarter cut the Gonzaga lead to nine. Two Bulldog free throws extended the lead back to 11, heading into the final frame.
Pacific scored 30 points in the fourth quarter for the first time since facing San Diego on New Year's Eve. Smith hit three shots from beyond the arc to start the fourth quarter, electrifying the crowd and cutting the lead to three. The Zags tried to pull away, but Elliott and James kept the Tigers close. Elliott scored three straight baskets and added two offensive rebounds, while James scored 10 points in the final seven minutes, including giving the Tigers a one-point lead with 3:31 remaining.
Gonzaga and James went back and forth, the Tiger defense forced a late turnover with nine seconds left and gave Pacific a chance at a game-winning shot, but it fell just short, and a Gonzaga rebound and subsequent free throws sealed the game.
The Tigers are back in action at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, facing Portland in a doubleheader with the men's team.
