Feb. 13, 2014
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Despite junior forward Sophia Ederaine tying a career-high with 21 points, the University of San Diego women's basketball team saw its 18-game home wining streak come to an end with a 66-48 loss to No. 15 Gonzaga University Thursday evening in a West Coast Conference game at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
With the loss, the Toreros fall to 19-6 overall, fall to 8-6 in the WCC, and saw their undefeated home record come to an end. With the win, the Zags improve to 23-3 overall and 13-1 in the WCC.
Ederaine led all players with her 21 points, while falling just one rebound shy of a double-double. Ederaine scored her 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting form the field, and she went 7-for-10 from the free throw line. Malina Hood added in eight points and Amy Kame chipped in with seven points. As a team, USD shot 31.4% from the field, and out rebound the Zags 40-33.
For Gonzaga, a pair of players scored in double figures paced by Haiden Palmer's 16 points, and seven steals. Keani Albanez added in 12 points, and the Zags shot 42.9% form the field and recorded 16 steals as a team.
In the first half, it was a slow start for both teams, as USD began the game 0-for-8 for the field, while Gonzaga wasn't much better, and they jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the first four minutes of action. The Toreros got on the scoreboard with 15:01 to go, as Ederaine hit her first jumper of the game. That basket would spark a 7-4 USD run to pull the Toreros to within two at 9-7 with 13:47 to go.
The two teams would then began to trade baskets, and after USD cut the lead to three at 18-15 on a Alysse Barlow free-throw, but the Zags would then go on an 8-0 run to take a 26-15 lead with 4:08 to go. GU would maintain the double-digit lead and go into the break up 14 at 36-22.
In the second half, USD would open the frame on a 9-4 run to cut the lead down to nine at 38-29 with 17:40 to go. USD would only be able to cut the lead down to single digits one more time, before Gonzaga would quickly use a 7-2 run to regain a 14-point lead. The Zags never looked back, and would eventually go on to lead by as many as 20, before claiming the 18-point win.
The Toreros will return to action on Saturday, as they host the University of Portland in a 2 p.m. game inside the friendly confines of the Jenny Craig Pavilion. This will be senior day, as the Toreros will honor its senior class in a pregame ceremony.
