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03/10 17:33 CDT Whittaker scores 26 points to lead Gonzaga women to 76-66 win,
WCC title and 16th NCAA berth
Whittaker scores 26 points to lead Gonzaga women to 76-66 win, WCC title and
16th NCAA berth
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- Lauren Whittaker scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds
to lead Gonzaga to a 76-66 win over Oregon State in the West Coast Conference
Tournament championship game on Tuesday.
The second-seeded Bulldogs (24-9) will make their 16th trip to the NCAA
Tournament and first since 2024 after winning their 11th WCC Tournament before
joining the renewed Pac-12 next season.
Whittaker, a freshman and conference player of the year, was 9-of-20 shooting
with three 3-pointers. Allie Turner scored all 14 of her points in the second
half and Ines Bettencourt added 12.
Jenna Villa scored 20 points for the fourth-seeded Beavers (23-11), making 9 of
10 free throws but going just 4 of 15 from the floor. Tiara Bolden added 19
points and eight rebounds and Lizzy Williamson had 12 points and nine rebounds.
There were 15 lead changes and 10 ties, the final deadlock coming with six
minutes remaining before Whittaker completed a three-point play. Her basket
with two minutes to go made it a four-point edge. From there, the Bulldogs
wrapped up the win, making 9 of 10 free throws while the Beavers were just 1 of
4 at the line and 1 of 7 from the floor.
Turner hit two 3-pointers and scored 10 points in the third quarter. Whittaker
added nine and the Bulldogs took a 53-49 lead into the final period.
Whittaker's 3-pointer gave Gonzaga a 18-17 first-quarter lead. The Beavers
outscored the Bulldogs 11-3 over the final eight minutes for a 28-27 halftime
edge.
The teams split their two regular-season games. Gonzaga had reached four
straight NCAA Tournaments before the Beavers beat them in last year's
semifinals en route to winning the tournament.
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