Feb. 13, 2010

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Despite a 17-point performance from both Morgan Henderson and Dominique Conners and a double-double for Felicia Wijenberg, the University of San Diego could not overcome the 22nd-ranked Gonzaga University Bulldogs in USD's home finale Saturday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Conners scored her 17 points on 5-for-21 shooting from the floor and she pulled down six rebounds, while Henderson scored her 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting. Wijenberg recorded her first collegiate double-double as she tied her career-high with 10 points and recorded a career-high with 11 rebounds. As a team, USD shot 38 percent from the floor and were out rebounded 43-32.

In the first half, the Zags (21-4, 10-0 WCC) got of to a great start as they opened the game with a 7-0 run over the first 1:23 of the game to force USD to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Conners hit USD's first jumper that sparked a 7-5 run to pull USD back to within five at 12-7 with 15:52 to go. Gonzaga would continue to dominate the first half as they would eventually go on to build up their lead to as many as 19 on a Heather Bowman jumper with 3:57 to go, moving the score to 39-20.

San Diego refused to go away quietly however, as over the final four minutes of the first half, the Toreros would be able to ct the deficit to 12 with a little wildness over the final three seconds. With a few ticks left on the clock, Conners drained a three at the buzzer, but the half was not over yet. As both teams were exiting the floor, the officials called both coaches to center court, where they informed them that a technical foul was issued on Gonzaga's Vivian Frieson right after Conners hit the three-pointer. Both teams went into their locker rooms, and Henderson was then sent to the line to begin the second half and hit both of the technical fouls free throws to cut the deficit to 12 at 42-30.

In the second half, the Toreros came out hitting on all cylinders, as they began to give Gonzaga a run for their money. The Toreros were able to hold things to within 13 points for a majority of the frame. Then with the Bulldogs leading 60-47 with 9:25 to go, the Toreros went on a 4-0 run to pull back to within single digits at 60-51 with 9:03 to go. Over the next three minutes of action, the Toreros held steady with the Zags trading basket-for-basket, until Conners hit a free-throw to cut the lead to seven at 63-56 with 6:01 remaining. But this is as close as the Toreros would come, as the Zags then went on a 5-1 run over the next four and a half minutes to regain a double-digit lead. USD could not come any closer as GU would hold on to win 75-61.

The Toreros will return to action on Saturday as they travel to play second=place Saint Mary's in a 2 p.m. WCC game.