BYU ends No. 13 Gonzaga women’s 12-game win streak

PROVO, Utah – Shaylee Gonzales scored 17 points and Paisley Johnson made two free throws with 1 minute, 2 seconds left for what proved to be the winning points in BYU’s 70-68 women’s basketball win over No. 13 Gonzaga on Thursday night, ending the Bulldogs’ 12-game win streak.

The victory left BYU (15-4, 7-0) alone in first atop the West Coast Conference after its ninth consecutive win.

“BYU is a good team, and Provo is a tough place to play,” Gonzaga coach Lisa Fortier said in a team release. “We made too many mistakes to beat them on the road tonight.”

The Bulldogs’ defense was suffocating in the opening quarter, forcing eight turnovers for eight points while outrebounding BYU 8-5.

Gonzaga (16-2, 5-1) shot 50 percent in the opening quarter and claimed a 19-9 lead after the first 10 minutes.

Laura Stockton had a huge opening quarter for the Bulldogs, scoring eight of her 15 points.

BYU overcame a 12-point second-quarter deficit, tying the game at 34 at halftime.

The Cougars exchanged the lead with the Bulldogs eight times in the second half, taking their final lead of 65-62 with 4:21 remaining on consecutive baskets by Breanna Chase, who finished with 14 points.

BYU led 69-66 after Johnson’s final free throws. Stockton drove for a score, getting Gonzaga within a point with 36 seconds left, before Gonzales made a free throw.

Stockton missed a 3-pointer and LeeAnne Wirth a putback in the final seconds.

Johnson finished with 12 points for BYU and Jasmine Moody grabbed 10 rebounds.

Stockton led Gonzaga with 15 points and Zykera Rice added 13. The Bulldogs hurt themselves at the free-throw line, making just 17 of 26 attempts.