The Gonzaga women's basketball team, ranked 19th, achieved a program milestone by hitting a record-breaking 19 three-pointers in a dominating 104-39 victory over Pacific.

February 04, 2024

The Gonzaga women's basketball team, ranked 19th, achieved a program milestone by hitting a record-breaking 19 three-pointers in a dominating 104-39 victory over Pacific.

On Saturday afternoon, the Gonzaga women's basketball team delivered an exceptional performance, possibly their best of the season, despite the earlier impressive win against Stanford in December. The 19th-ranked Bulldogs dominated the Pacific Tigers 104-39 in a West Coast Conference game at McCarthey Athletic Center, extending their home winning streak to 30 and maintaining an overall record of 22-2, with a flawless 9-0 in WCC. This home winning streak is the second-longest in the nation, trailing behind No. 1-ranked South Carolina (50).

Gonzaga's victory marked their 16th consecutive win of the season, and their dominance in WCC games is evident, with an average winning margin of 31 points. The team's performance surpassed expectations, winning by a staggering 65-point margin against a Pacific team that entered the game as the third-ranked in the conference.

Coach Lisa Fortier expressed surprise at the team's exceptional performance, highlighting the players' adherence to the game plan and the execution of both offensive and defensive strategies. The game showcased Gonzaga's commitment to teamwork and adherence to their playing style.

The game's outcome was apparent from the beginning as Gonzaga initiated with a 15-0 run. The situation continued to worsen for Pacific, and by halftime, Gonzaga had established a commanding 53-23 lead. Even on the last play of the first half, senior forward Yvonne Ejim, following a designed play, made a 3-pointer, her first of the season, contributing to Gonzaga's substantial halftime lead.

While Pacific didn't give up, the Tigers struggled in the second half, and Gonzaga's dominance persisted. The second-best crowd of the season witnessed a remarkable display as Gonzaga set a school record for 3-point shooting and surpassed the 100-point mark. The final score of 104 points is the highest scored by a Fortier-coached team in the last 10 years and stands as the largest margin of victory by a Division I team this season.

Kaylynne Truong's 3-pointer with 3:37 remaining surpassed the team's previous record of 17, and she added another one just 21 seconds later. The Bulldogs made an impressive 19 out of 35 attempts from beyond the arc, achieving a 54.3% success rate.

In a lighthearted moment, Esther Little went to the free-throw line with Gonzaga comfortably leading 99-37. She made an unconventional bank shot for the first free throw and playfully glanced at the bench, anticipating some good-natured teasing.

Yvonne Ejim secured her ninth double-double, contributing 21 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals. She was one of six players who reached double-digit scoring.

Kaylynne Truong finished with 15 points and nine assists, Brynna Maxwell added 13 points and five rebounds, Bree Salenbien matched her career high with 14 points coming off the bench, Kayleigh Truong contributed 12 points, seven assists, and three steals, and Eliza Hollingsworth had 12 points and seven rebounds.

Reflecting on the game, Maxwell mentioned that while the team was well-prepared, the extent of their success was unexpected. Despite Pacific being a strong team with notable victories, Gonzaga's performance surpassed expectations.

Coach Fortier acknowledged the outstanding achievement against a team whose starters typically average in double digits but were held below that mark during this game. She described the game as a treat for the spectators and expressed her enjoyment of the team's performance.

Looking ahead, Gonzaga is set to host Pepperdine (5-17, 1-8) on Thursday.

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