STOCKTON, Calif. – Pacific women's basketball gave its all against No. 17 Gonzaga but came up short 91-78 on Saturday at Alex G. Spanos Center.
Five Tigers scored in double figures, led by junior
Elizabeth Elliott who racked up 14 points on a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and 2-of-4 at the free throw line. In addition, Pacific had double digit performances from junior
Anaya James (13), senior
Kadie Deaton (12), senior
Liz Smith (11) and graduate student
Cecilia Holmberg (10).
Both teams traded baskets in the first six minutes of the contest. Deaton notched a layup and free throw that ignited a 9-0 run, putting Pacific (14-11, 6-6 WCC) up 17-9 with 3:34 left in the first quarter. The Wausau, Wisconsin native later hit a jump shot and three-pointer to extend the Tigers' lead 24-16 during the final minutes. Gonzaga (26-2, 13-0 WCC) responded with back-to-back field goals, but Pacific stayed on top 26-21 at the end of the first thanks to two free throws from redshirt senior
Rosie Schweizer. The Tigers shot 11-of-14 overall in the first 10 minutes.
In the second quarter after James registered 2-of-2 from the free throw line, the Bulldogs notched six unanswered points to get within one, 28-27. Smith and Schweizer combined for the next seven points to extend the Tigers' advantage, 35-27. Gonzaga stormed back but a three from James was the difference at the end of the second quarter as Pacific led 46-45.
The Bulldogs would outscore the Tigers 30-14 in the third quarter which was a margin that the home team could not come back from.
Pacific shot 31-of-60 (.517) from the field, 3-of-11 (.273) at the three-point line and 13-of-15 (.867) from the free-throw line. Gonzaga was 33-of-64 (.516) overall, 13-of-30 (.433) from behind the arc and 12-of-16 (.750) at the charity stripe.
The Tigers had 19 points off 15 Bulldog turnovers and 17 on the fast break.
Up next, Pacific heads to southern California for its final two road games of the season, beginning at Pepperdine at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
NOTES
-This was the 26
th meeting between Pacific and Gonzaga.
-The Tigers are 13-2 when leading at the half and 10-5 when scoring 70 or more points.
-Elliott continues to be Pacific's leading scorer overall with 13.8 points per game. Holmberg leads the Tigers in conference games with 13.5 per game.
-Pacific holds the best winning percentage (.714) at the Spanos Center. The Tigers are currently 10-4 when playing on home court.
-Three Tigers are close to earning 1,000 points in their careers:
Anaya James (962),
Elizabeth Elliott (944),
Liz Smith (942)
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