SPOKANE, Wash. – Head Coach Lisa Fortier told her team before taking the court: ‘Be Yourselves’.
Fortier and the players admitted post-game: this win was not themselves.
With 20 total turnovers and a sloppy first half, it felt like an uncharacteristic night for the Zags.
“We know what Zag basketball is now… I don’t think that was it today. But we found it a little, enough to win,” said freshman guard Allie Turner.
Turner accounted for a team-high 16 points and Maud Hujibens tallied 11 points and eight rebounds. It was a ‘quieter’ night for Yvonne Ejim who posted 12 points and four rebounds.
Gonzaga overcame Saint Mary’s with a final score of 60-53, but not without letting the Gaels get within four points of their lead in the fourth quarter.
“I would sum it up: sometimes you gotta win ugly,” said Coach Fortier. “It was gutty but our team figured it out.”
Both players and Coach agreed if this was a game earlier in the season, the result might have been different. But with a strong team identity at this point in their campaign; the Zags found a way to close out their 14th straight win.
The program is looking ahead to an emotional afternoon, Saturday, for Senior Day. The Zags will honor Yvonne Ejim, Maud Hujibens, Esther Little, Bree Salenbien and Tayla Dalton. Salenbien has one more year of eligibility and Fortier said Salenbien is still deciding on whether she will play another year.
Tipoff against San Francisco is at noon in the Kennel.
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