GU women’s three seniors go out with a WCC title

Elle Tinkle’s second Senior Night went differently than her first.

This year, Tinkle was in uniform and she left the McCarthey Athletic Center an outright WCC champion. Following the game, she raised the trophy and helped cut down the net with her teammates.

In the team’s photo with the trophy, Tinkle smiled with the remains of the net draped around her neck.

“(Tonight) is what I envisioned for my senior night,” she said.

Last season, Tinkle was granted a medical hardship waiver after coming down with a knee injury in the opening game. She appeared in 10 games, but eventually determined the injury was too severe, forcing her to sit out the remainder of the year.

By the time Gonzaga’s Senior Night arrived last season, Tinkle had not yet received her medical hardship waiver from the NCAA. So, her future – and an extra year in a Gonzaga uniform – was up in the air.

Tinkle was honored Thursday night alongside fellow seniors Kiara Kudron and Makenlee Williams.

Following the game, all three Zags gave a speech before the team and coaches cut down the net.

An emotional Kudron, who admitted she had dreaded this day for five years, thanked the fans for their support.

“We have more fans at away games than the home team, thank you so much,” she said.

Kudron was able to lead the team in rebounds on her senior night. She pulled down 10 boards, only three shy of her career high.

Williams only played one season at Gonzaga after transferring from Utah State, where she was second on the team in scoring.

Head coach Lisa Fortier told the Spokesman-Review’s Jim Allen that Williams came to Gonzaga because “she wanted to be a part of a championship.”

“I am so blessed I got to finish my career here,” Williams said. “I am so blessed to call myself a Zag.”

The senior guard, who started in place of Emma Stach on Thursday, scored six points off of two 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Fortier said her three seniors are better people than they are players – and that they are really good players.

“I am so fortunate that I have been able to have my kids around them, and that I have been able to coach them,” Fortier said. “I truly think they are the kind of people who make you better every day.”