PORTLAND, Ore. — The 4-seed Gonzaga ladies’s basketball crew performed a hard-fought recreation in opposition to the 1-seed Texas Longhorns, however sadly got here up quick as they misplaced within the spherical of 16 within the NCAA Match, 69-47.
This was the primary spherical of 16 appearances since 2015 for the Zags, and so they have been hoping to come back out with a win over the Longhorns, however sadly weren’t capable of cease their offense or get photographs up in opposition to their protection.
At first of the primary quarter, the Longhorns began out fast as Madison Booker tossed up a layup. The Bulldogs got here again rapidly as Brynna Maxwell made a stupendous three-pointer to get her crew excited.
However on the finish of the primary half, Texas was up by 9 factors. The Bulldogs have been impatient and weren’t capable of cease the Longhorns offense. Within the first 10 minutes, they solely made 2-of-11 photographs from the sphere.
Gonzaga remains to be struggling, as they’ve solely made three subject targets and had eight turnovers within the first quarter-hour of the sport. The Bulldogs went 9 minutes and not using a shot from the sphere, and Texas’ protection has been shifting them out of place, inflicting them to panic on the court docket.
The Longhorns continued to point out their dominance as Shay Holle hit a three-pointer to finish the primary half and end with a 10-2 run for Texas. This 1-seed crew has been having sizzling fingers within the first half and has had nice shot choice as they’ve been 14-of-227 from the sphere.
On this first half, that is the bottom level complete that the Bulldogs have been held in any respect season lengthy. They went into halftime down by 19 factors with solely three made photographs from the sphere, 37-19.
At first of the third quarter, the Zags tried to get one thing cooking, with Eliza Hollingsworth hitting a layup, Maxwell with a layup and one other stunning three. The final six possessions for the Zags have buckets, however the Longhorns have been making every of their possessions as nicely.
Though the Bulldogs went on slightly run, they weren’t capable of shut the hole going into the fourth quarter. Within the final 10 minutes of the sport, Ejim hit a fast layup to get her into double-digits, however six of her factors have been from free throws.
The Longhorns continued to point out their dominance as three gamers put up double-digits: Shaylee Gonzales with 15 factors, Aaliyah Moore with 16 and Shay Hollie with 12. They led their crew to victory, and now they’ll face NC State within the quarterfinals of the NCAA Match.
The Zags completed the spherical of 16 with a loss to Texas with a last rating of 69-47.
The Bulldogs fought laborious all the best way to the top however had bother getting their photographs to fall as they needed. They went 26.5% from the sphere, made 4-of-22 three-pointers and went 85% from the free throw line.
Sadly for 5 of those gamers, they performed their final recreation for Gonzaga within the spherical of 16. However as an alternative of sulking over what might have been, they get to have a look at all of the accomplishments this crew has had all through the 2023–24 season.
The Gonzaga ladies’s basketball crew has cemented themselves into program historical past as probably the greatest. They’ve set quite a few program data and went on to have certainly one of their greatest seasons as they went 32-4.
As they put a cap on this historic season, the one returning starter shall be Yvonne Ejim, as head coach Lisa Fortier must put collectively one other dominant and aggressive crew for the 2024–25 season.
