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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The 2016–17 Gonzaga women’s a record 68 percent from long range basketball team had an exciting in the win over BYU. Laura Stockton season and when the dust settled, made a game-winning jumper to the Bulldogs had advanced to their beat Saint Mary’s at home to cap the eighth NCAA Tournament in nine streak. years and ninth overall. The Zags cut the nets after downing The Bulldogs won their 12th West San Diego 62–57 on Senior Night, Coast Conference Championship clinching the 13th WCC title in in 13 years and their sixth WCC program history, and second under Tournament title in the past nine coach Fortier, with a 14–4 league seasons. Their final 26–7 record record. meant they have reached 20 victories Kudron and Barta were selected in 10 of the last 11 years, and 25 wins All-WCC First Team, with Barta in nine of the last 10. They advanced becoming just the third Bulldog to to postseason play for the 13th time earn it twice in her first two seasons. in the last 14 years. Elle Tinkle was chosen to the second Head coach Lisa Fortier led her team, and Stockton was named to squad to the best non-conference the honorable mention list. KIARA KUDRON mark in her three-year tenure at the became the 17th member The top-seeded Bulldogs rolled helm at 9–2. That run was marked of the 600-rebound club through three games to claim the by a monumental victory at No. 11/7 finishing with WCC Tournament title, led by and eventual Final Four participant tournament MVP Jill Barta, who Stanford. It was the highest rated capped the championship game by team in the USA Today Poll GU breaking the tournament scoring 10th all-time at GU. has ever beaten and put them in mark with a career-high 37 points. It the national rankings at No. 25 the also vaulted her into the 1,000-point following week. Jill Barta was named scoring club at GU as the 22nd WCC Player of the Week following member. The Zags broke their own her 26 points in that contest, and tourney records in points, rebounds, then earned All-Tournament honors assists, steals, field goals, and threeat the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin pointers made. Kudron and Stockton Islands a week later. joined Barta on the all-tournament The Zags picked up wins over powerteam. five schools Washington State and GU earned an 11-seed in the NCAA Northwestern at home. Against the Tournament and headed out to Cougars, the Zags set a program high Seattle to face 6-seed Oklahoma. with 34 first-quarter points, and Kiara Against the Sooners, the Zags found Kudron was named WCC Player of their footing a little late, falling 75–62 the Week. to end the season. After two WCC losses to start the Tinkle and Kudron were named to the conference season, the Bulldogs WCC All-Academic Team, and Emma ripped off a 12-game win streak. Barta Stach, Chandler Smith, and Emma was named WCC Player of the Week Wolfram were all named honorable again and a top-five player nationally, mention. Kudron was also selected and made game-winning shots at San as a DI-AAA Scholar-Athlete. Diego and Santa Clara. The Zags set a program record, making 17 threes at
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GONZAGA UNIVERSITY / DEPARTMENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS