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Gonzaga Women's Basketball

Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s: 3 keys to the Bulldogs’ 78-77 victory over the Gaels

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zykera Rice (00) looks for an open shot against the Saint Mary's Gaels during a WCC women's semifinal basketball game on Monday, March 11, 2019, at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Gonzaga won the game 78-77 in double overtime. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Allen jima@spokesman.com

Key moment

The game went two overtimes, but Gonzaga had several chances to fade away long before then. Saint Mary’s led 27-16 midway through the second quarter, but Laura Stockton hit a jumper, Melody a Kempton scored on a layup and Zykera Rice added four more points to help GU get within four points at halftime.

Offensive MVP

Senior forward Zykera Rice scored the winner in double-overtime, but did a lot to help set it up. Rice had a game-high 21 points, a team-high eight rebounds and went 7-for-8 from the foul line. Rice also had one block.

Defensive MVP

Coming off the bench, Jenn Wirth scored 10 points, but also made life tough for the Gaels’ offense. The 6-foot-3 sophomore had four rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zykera Rice (00) reacts with guard Jessie Loera (15), guard Chandler Smith (30) and forward Jenn Wirth (3), after she hit a shot in the final seconds of a second overtime period to defeat the Saint Mary
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zykera Rice (00) reacts with guard Jessie Loera (15), guard Chandler Smith (30) and forward Jenn Wirth (3), after she hit a shot in the final seconds of a second overtime period to defeat the Saint Mary’s Gaels during a WCC women’s semifinal basketball game on Monday, March 11, 2019, at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Gonzaga won the game 78-77 in double overtime. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)