SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — Gonzaga used a dominant fourth quarter to defeat San Francisco 82-69 in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs, led by Lauren Whittaker’s 26 points, outscored the Dons 25-15 in the final period to secure the victory. Allie Turner added 25 points for Gonzaga, which shot 53% from the field and made 11 three-pointers. San Francisco’s Candy Edokpaigbe scored a game-high 24 points. The Dons held a 46-28 advantage in points in the paint and forced 17 turnovers but were undone by 3-for-15 shooting from three-point range. Gonzaga improved to 13-6 overall. San Francisco fell to 10-7.

SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — A dominant fourth-quarter surge, fueled by the efficient scoring of Lauren Whittaker and Allie Turner, propelled the Gonzaga Bulldogs to an 82-69 victory over the San Francisco Dons in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at a raucous McCarthey Athletic Center. The game, played before a crowd of 4,765, was a tale of contrasting offensive philosophies and a decisive final period. San Francisco, relying on interior scoring and forcing turnovers, hung within striking distance for three quarters. Gonzaga, however, leveraged superior perimeter shooting and clutch free-throw accuracy to pull away down the stretch, outscoring the Dons 25-15 in the final frame. The most critical phase of the contest began with Gonzaga holding a slim 57-54 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs, who had been methodical all night, shifted into a higher gear. They opened the period on a 14-3 run over the first five minutes, transforming a tense three-point advantage into a commanding 71-57 lead. This burst effectively sealed the game, as San Francisco could not mount a sustained response against Gonzaga’s suddenly stifling defense and mistake-free execution. The Bulldogs’ star duo was central to the closing effort. Lauren Whittaker, the 6-foot-3 forward from Christchurch, New Zealand, scored a game-high 26 points in just 28 minutes, demonstrating a versatile inside-out game. Guard Allie Turner of St. Louis complemented her with 25 points, five assists and two blocks, including a key swat on Candy Edokpaigbe during the fourth-quarter run that ignited the home crowd. Together, they accounted for 51 of Gonzaga’s 82 points. San Francisco was led by the relentless effort of Candy Edokpaigbe, who tallied 24 points and battled for 39 minutes. Guard Aina Cargol added 13 points and six assists for the Dons, who consistently attacked the paint, scoring 46 of their 69 points from close range. Their aggressive defense also generated 17 Gonzaga turnovers, which they converted into 19 points. Despite those efforts, the Dons were ultimately undone by their inability to match Gonzaga’s shooting efficiency. The Bulldogs shot a blistering 55% from the field, including 11 of 20 from three-point range, and made 15 of 17 free throws. San Francisco, by contrast, connected on just 43% of its field goals, a meager 3 of 15 from beyond the arc, and 10 of 17 from the foul line. Gonzaga also won the possession battle, scoring its 82 points on just 70 trips, compared to San Francisco’s 69 points on 74 possessions. The first half was a tightly contested affair, featuring nine ties and seven lead changes. Gonzaga held a narrow 39-35 advantage at halftime, with both teams trading small runs. The third quarter continued the pattern, as San Francisco’s interior scoring from Edokpaigbe and timely baskets from Mara Neira kept the Dons within a single possession heading into the final quarter, setting the stage for Gonzaga’s decisive explosion. With the win, Gonzaga improved its season record to 13-6 overall. San Francisco fell to 10-7. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in a rematch in San Francisco on Thursday, Jan. 29. Gonzaga next hosts San Diego on Saturday, while San Francisco travels to face Washington State on the same day.

Preview: San Francisco Dons at Gonzaga Bulldogs SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — A pivotal West Coast Conference women’s basketball matchup is set for Thursday night as the Gonzaga Bulldogs host the San Francisco Dons at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs (12-6 overall) enter with a slight edge in the standings and will look to defend their home court, where they have been strong this season. Gonzaga is coming off a 69-55 victory over Portland last Saturday, powered by a 22-point performance from standout guard Lauren Whittaker. Whittaker has been a consistent force for Gonzaga, averaging 19.2 points over her last six games. She recorded a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds in a narrow 77-73 loss at Santa Clara on Jan. 4, demonstrating her ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. San Francisco (10-6) aims to rebound from a 77-67 home loss to Santa Clara on Jan. 8. The Dons’ offense runs through dynamic guard Aina Cargol, who leads the team in creation and scoring. Over her last seven games, Cargol is averaging 14.6 points and 6.1 assists per contest, including a 17-point, 8-assist effort in an 85-82 overtime win at Loyola Marymount. The Dons will need Cargol’s playmaking and scoring from Candy Edokpaigbe, who had 19 points in the loss to Santa Clara, to challenge a disciplined Gonzaga defense. This contest marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams, with the rematch scheduled for Jan. 29 in San Francisco. The outcome will provide early positioning in the conference race. Gonzaga holds the historical advantage in the series and the benefit of one of the toughest home environments in the WCC. San Francisco, however, has shown resilience on the road, securing key away victories at Loyola Marymount and San Diego earlier this month. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST Thursday. Gonzaga’s next game is at home against San Diego on Saturday. San Francisco travels to face Washington State on Saturday.