Gonzaga-BYU: 3 keys to the Cougars’ 82-68 victory over the Bulldogs
Key moment
Gonzaga had chipped a double-digit BYU lead to seven late in the third quarter, but tournament MVP Paisley Johnson opened the fourth with two baskets and a free throw, helping the Cougars pull away.
Offensive MVP
Even in defeat, Zykera Rice stood tall for Gonzaga. Rice shot 6 for 10 from the floor and 12 for 12 from the foul line to finish with a game-high 25 points. Rice did all that despite foul trouble that limited her to 24 minutes.
Defensive MVP
Sara Hamson, a 6-foot-7 sophomore center for BYU, intimidated the Zags inside. She had eight rebounds and four blocks, both game highs.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zykera Rice (00) strains for a rebound against BYU Cougars center Sara Hamson (22) during the second half of a WCC women's final basketball game on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)