Albanez continues torrid scoring pace for GU women’s team

CORVALLIS, Ore. – You’d be hard-pressed to find a happier Zag on Friday than guard Keani Albanez.

Her postseason shooting streak stood up under the glare of the NCAA tournament, helping carry 11th-seeded Gonzaga to an 82-69 upset over sixth-seeded George Washington in a first-round game at Gill Coliseum.

Albanez scored 19 points, but also finished strong against the ferocious second-half press from the Colonials, who finally knocked her down – but not out – late in the game.

With 27 seconds to play and Gonzaga leading 78-69, Albanez was struck on the shin by a George Washington player. After laying on the court for about a minute, she walked gingerly but happily back to the bench.

“I just rubbed some dirt in it and called it a day,” said Albanez, who acknowledged that the hard knocks come harder and more often in the postseason. While the battle in the paint got most of the attention Friday, the performance of Albanez and the GU backcourt was the story of the game.

The senior from Santa Barbara, California, did most of her damage in the first half, hitting 4 of 5 shots for a game-high 12 points as the Zags took a 40-25 lead into the lockerroom.

In the second half, she did most of her damage at the foul line, sinking 7 of 8 to help the Zags withstand a late Colonial rally. She also hit a 12-foot jumper with 2:45 left that gave the Zags a 73-62 lead to fend off the last serious George Washington rally.

In her last eight games, Albanez is shooting better than 50 percent – 46 for 91. Backcourt mate Georgia Stirton was 3 for 5 from the field.

“It’s just repetitions, and not thinking about it a lot,” said Albanez, who finished 5 for 7 from the field on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Colonials had a lot to think about with inside players Jonquel Jones and Caira Washington in foul trouble. They had to be protected, said George Washington coach Jonathan Tsipis, who was forced to shift to a zone defense.

“Our kids knew we needed to be there on the catch, but on the ones they were able to knock down, we were half a step slow,” Tsipis said.

Meanwhile, the George Washington guards were 10 for 34, thanks to some aggressive, shifting defense ordered by the Zags.

Fans few but loyal

Call them the vocal minority of Zag Nation.

While most Gonzaga fans were in Seattle on Friday afternoon, about 200 were in Gill Coliseum, making up in volume what they lacked in numbers.

Their voices rang even louder after the departure of several thousand Oregon State fans, who watched the Beavers beat South Dakota State in the opener.

Mike and Elizabeth Caldwell of Spokane, season-ticket holders for over a decade, were among them.

“We love to watch the girls team, and we like how hard they work and have fun at the same time,” Elizabeth Caldwell said.

Family was there too, including Oregon State men’s coach Wayne Tinkle, whose daughter Elle finished with 11 points and four rebounds for Gonzaga.

Also present were David Cheslek and daughter Gracie, who drove from Pullman to watch starting center Shelby Cheslek pull down five rebounds and help negate George Washington center Jonquel Jones.

Like many Zag fans, the Chesleks were concerned when Lisa Fortier took over the reins this year from Kelly Graves. “There was a lot of worry, but she’s done an incredible job,” David Cheslek said.