The Gonzaga women's team's season came to an end today with a loss in the Sweet Sixteen to Kentucky. Gonzaga is 28-6 on the year, as is Kentucky. The Zags made their 4th straight NCAA tournament appearance, 6th straight postseason appearance and 8th under current head coach Kelly Graves.
Zag starters Kayla Standish, Katelan Redmon and Kelly Bowen played their last game for Gonzaga in the loss. Shannon Reader also played her last game as a Zag, though she receives limited minutes off the bench. Last year the Zags lost one of the greatest players in the history of college basketball, WNBA All-Star Courtney Vandersloot, but recovered this season with a 3rd straight sweet sixteen. Next season will be interesting as the Zags aren't losing an all time great, but will have to replace three solid veterans.
Recap of the game after the jump.
Kentucky's "40 minutes of dread" pressure defense overwhelmed the Zags in this game. There were numerous times in the first half where Gonzaga guards would get in what is essentially an impenetrable four walled box. Two Kentucky guards would trap the ball handler against the half-court line and sideline, which is absolutely the worst place the point guard can pick up their dribble. Gonzaga only committed 10 turnovers however they were forced into many bad or contested shots and lost the rebounding battle 25 to 38.
Kentucky's vaunted defense was in full effect tonight but their offense was even more impressive. The Wildcats, normally a bad 3-point shooting team, made 12-21 from long range. Good for 55% and 36 points. Gonzaga made only 1-6 for 16%
All of Gonzaga's three senior starters scored in double figures. Kayla Standish had a game high 25 points, she ends her Gonzaga career as the team's all time leader in blocked shots. Taelor Karr led the team in assists with 4 and Jazmine Redmon led in steals with 4, both return next season as juniors.
This was the first trip to the state of Rhode Island for all of the Gonzaga players and will not be as memorable of a visit as they had hoped.
NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Sweet Sixteen
11 Gonzaga 62, 2 Kentucky 79
March 25, 2012
Kingston, RI
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