Gonzaga Cruises by Portland, Improves to 16-1

The Gonzaga women won their 12th straight game, making quick work of Portland on Saturday afternoon in the McCarthey Athletic Center. The 97-71 victory improves their program-best record to 16-1 on the season heading in to their showdown with BYU.

Fresh off back-to-back WCC Player of the Week awards, Zykera Rice led Gonzaga again with a career-high 28 points on a ridiculously efficient 11-for-13 from the field, adding seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Laura Stockton had one of her best games of the season, adding a career-high 19 points on 9-for-16 shooting, with six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Career-highs for everyone today in a season full of history.

The Bulldogs led from the start and were never threatened by the last place Pilots. They led 29-13 after a quarter, led by swarming defense and hot shooting. Gonzaga is nearly automatic at mid-range jumpers, it's pretty crazy. Portland cut the lead to 12 in the second quarter, but never got closer.

Gonzaga scored 26 points off 16 Portland turnovers and outrebounded the Pilots 59-29. Jill Townsend and Melody Kempton scored 11 and 10 off the bench, respectively.

The Zags will now travel to Provo for their toughest conference challenge. BYU is 6-0 in the WCC and beat Saint Mary’s on the road, 74-73, this afternoon.