LAS VEGAS – Fifth seeded Pacific women's basketball's run in the West Coast Conference Tournament came to an end in the semifinals after a 72-61 loss to the first seed in No. 15 Gonzaga on Monday at Orleans Arena.
 
Junior Anaya James matched her season-high 23 points while dishing out five assists. Senior Liz Smith was the second Tiger to finish in double figures with 12 points.
 
Pacific (18-14, 8-8 WCC) was down 6-0 in the first quarter before James and Smith contributed back to back threes to tie the game at the 7:32 mark. The Tigers tied the game three times overall in the first 10 minutes. Redshirt senior Rosie Schweizer registered back to back baskets to help Pacific get within two at the end of the first, 18-15.
 
Gonzaga (30-2, 16-0 WCC) continued to build on its lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Tigers 20-10. The score was 38-25 in favor of the Bulldogs.
 
After Gonzaga extended its deficit by 20 with 2:41 left in the third quarter, Pacific responded with nine unanswered points. Graduate student Cecilia Holmberg drained a three that got the Tigers within 11, 54-43. The Bulldogs hit a three at the end of the third for the 57-43 advantage.
 
Pacific was held scoreless in the fourth till the 2:37 mark when graduate student Madelene Ennis notched her first points of the game on a second chance layup. From there, the Tigers tallied 10 straight points to cut Gonzaga's deficit to 15, 70-55. James and freshman Nyah Lowery combined for the final six points but it was not enough.
 
Pacific shot 23-of-58 (.397) from the field, 6-of-19 (.316) at the three-point line and 9-of-13 (.692) from the free throw line. Gonzaga was 26-of-59 (.441) overall, 9-of-21 (.429) from behind the arc and 11-of-15 (.733) at the charity stripe. The Tigers had 24 points off 25 Bulldog turnovers along with 10 from the bench.  
 

Scored our last 9? points in the final three minutes of the 3Q.

Anaya leading with 1?4? points.

Gonzaga 57, Pacific 43#PacificProud #WCCHoops pic.twitter.com/kOtuGFrkRi

— Pacific Women's Hoops (@Pacific_Hoops) March 11, 2024

 
NOTES
-This was the 27th meeting between Pacific and Gonzaga.
 
-Pacific is 3-1 this season when playing at neutral sites.
 
-James recorded her fourth 20+ point performance of the season, seventh in her career.
 
-James and Schweizer reached milestones in career rebounding with three and four, respectively. James now has 400 rebounds while Schweizer has 300.
 
-Smith has now scored double figures in 55 games.
 
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