Feb. 10, 2011

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Senior Renahy Young had 15 points but LMU could not slow down a hot-shooting Gonzaga as the Bulldogs shot 51% from the floor in an 82-42 victory in a West Coast Conference game Thursday night at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash.

Young went into double figures for the 11th consecutive game and 78th time in her career with her 15 points. The Lions (10-14, 4-6 WCC) also got six points and 10 rebounds from freshman Camille Buckley, her 10th double-digit rebounding game of the season. Sophomore Monica DeAngelis and senior Jessica Vargas each also added six points as LMU shot 32.1% (17-for-53) from the floor but just 8.7% (2-for-23) from three-point range while hitting 60% (6-of-10) at the line. After committing a combined 25 turnovers in the last three games, the Lions had 20 on Thursday, leading to 23 Gonzaga points.

The Bulldogs (21-4, 9-0 WCC) put three players in double figures, led by Courtney Vandersloot's 21 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, and four steals. Kayla Standish had 20 points and six boards and Shannon Reader connected on 5-of-6 off the bench for 10 points. Janelle Bekkering chipped in eight points and nine boards as Gonzaga won its 11th in a row and 24th straight in the WCC.

Gonzaga finished the contest shooting 51.4% (37-for-72) overall, 46.7% (7-for-15) from three, and 1-for-3 at the line. The Bulldogs held a 46-29 rebounding advantage while committing nine turnovers and winning the points in the paint battle, 44-20.

The Bulldogs raced out of the gate, hitting 12 of their first 23 shots to assume a 24-4 lead after 13 minutes. The Lions were having no such luck on the offensive end, starting 2-for-16 with eight turnovers while going scoreless for nearly eight minutes.

LMU committed just one turnover the rest of the half and DeAngelis provided a lift off the bench, halting an 0-for-9 start from distance with a corner three, then following with a traditional three-point play to help the Lions pull back to 26-14 with 4:45 remaining. The Lions could not keep Standish and Reader out of the interior, however, and the pair combined for 18 of Gonzaga's 28 points in the paint en route to shooting 47% in the first half to take a 35-19 lead into the break.

Young came out of the locker room looking to bring LMU back with eight points over the next 10 minutes but for each LMU run it seemed like Vandersloot would answer with a three. LMU got back to within 18, 56-38, with 8:55 to play but Vandersloot hit a straightaway three and Gonzaga knocked down six of nine second half three-pointers to hold off any Lion comeback.

LMU continues the three-game road tip on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Portland.