STOCKTON, Calif. – As the WCC tournament draws closer, the Pacific women's basketball team (12-14, 7-8) continues its climb up the WCC standings. The Tigers will face their toughest test, traveling to play against #20 Gonzaga (23-3, 13-1) and Portland (18-7, 12-2). 

Junior Liz Smith has scored 10+ in 11 of her last 12 games, leads the team in scoring at 14.2 points per game, and is fifth in the conference in three-point percentage at 42.1%. Senior Sam Ashby leads the team in defensive rebounds with 107 and sophomore Elizabeth Elliott leads the team in total rebounding, averaging 5.9 per game. Sophomore Anaya James surpassed the 100-assist mark for the second straight season. James is at 102 on the season. 

Gonzaga rebounded nicely after suffering its first conference loss against Santa Clara, picking up wins over San Francisco and Portland. Gonzaga has the best offense and defense in the WCC, scoring 73.5 points per game and allowing just 59.9 points per game. Bryanna Maxwell continues to lead the nation in three-point shooting, hitting shots from beyond the arc at a 50.7% rate. 

Portland's only two losses this season have come against Gonzaga and the Pilots had won six straight before falling to Gonzaga last weekend. Alex Fowler leads the team and the conference in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game. This will be the first contest between the two teams at the Chiles Center since 2020-21, as last season's contest was canceled due to COVID-19. 

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GONZAGA
 
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PORTLAND
 
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