Announcement

**ZagDad84** · 12-01-2021, 11:41 PM

From the University of Wyoming Athletic Department:

Cowgirls Head West to Face Gonzaga

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Dec. 1, 2021) – The Wyoming Cowgirls continue their three-game stretch away from Laramie with a trip to Gonzaga for a 7 p.m., MT tip Friday. The Bulldogs are receiving votes to be ranked in both the latest Associated Press top-25 and USA Today Coach's polls.

Friday's contest will not be streamed live anywhere but fans can listen across all 25 stations on the Cowgirl Radio Network with Keith Kelley on the call.

A LOOK AT THE COWGIRLS
The Cowgirls (3-3) are coming off maybe their two best performances on the season last week at the Pioneer Thanksgiving Classic. UW lost 73-67 to Tulane to open the tournament November 26 before an impressive 81-51 victory Nov. 27 against host-Denver.

Wyoming swept the Mountain West's Player of the Week awards this week. McKinley Bradshaw took home Player of the Week honors from the league while Allyson Fertig was named the Freshman of the Week. Bradshaw averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and two steals per game in the Cowgirls' three games last week. Bradshaw shot 52.6 percent from the floor and hit a trio of 3-pointers last week.

Fertig meanwhile, set new career-highs in points in each game last week. Fertig averaged 15 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last week and shot 63-percent from the field. Fertig was also named to the All-Tournament Team at the Pioneer Classic.

The Cowgirls continue to play well on the defensive end of the floor, allowing opponents to score at just under 56 points per game, a mark that ranks second in the league thus far in the season. UW also continues to be No. 1 in the nation in fewest fouls per game, following opponents just 10 times per game in 2021-22.

Current Cowgirls continue to climb up the program's record books. Quinn Weidemann, who hit six 3-pointers last weekend, is now 11th all-time with 150 made 3-pointers in her career, while her 40.8 percent career 3-point percentage ranks fourth all-time.

Tommi Olson moved into 25th on the all-time career assists list over the weekend and now has 208 for her career. Olson also moved into 20th on the program's career steals list and has 115 for her career. This season, Olson leads the league and ranks seventh in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio at a 4.17 ratio.

SCOUTING GONZAGA
Gonzaga, who is receiving votes to be ranked in the latest AP Top-25 Poll, enters Friday's contest with a 6-1 mark overall, its only loss coming to fourth-ranked and defending National Champion Stanford. The Bulldogs are 2-1 at home this season.

Gonzaga has a balanced offensive attack that's averaging over 71.5 points per game in 2021-22. The Bulldogs have three players scoring in double figures and six that score eight points or more per. Kayleigh Truong leads the team at 12 points per game while her twin sister Kaylynne, is at 11.9 per contest. The duo also ties for the team-lead with 23 total assists. Yvonne Ejim leads the team with 5.4 rebounds per game and a block per game while averaging 8.9 points per game.

The Bulldogs are shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and 38.6 percent from 3-point range this season and is out-rebounding opponents by more than 13 boards per game. Gonzaga's opponents are scoring at just a 55-point clip and is shooting 37.6 percent from the floor and 27.8 percent from beyond-the-arc.

Head Coach Lisa Fortier is in her eighth season leading the Bulldogs and has compiled a record of 184-48 (.793).

SERIES AGAINST GONZAGA
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with the Cowgirls, 6-1. Wyoming's lone win in the series came in the series opener back in 1989 in Spokane. Gonzaga has defeated the Cowgirls in Laramie each of the past two seasons.

Link: https://gowyo.com/news/2021/12/1/wom...e-gonzaga.aspx

Gonzaga will have a slight height advantage with the Wyoming starters, but they Cow Girls have a 6'4" freshman center who made the all-tournament team last week even though she only plays about 15 minutes a game.

ZagDad

**ZagDad84** · 12-02-2021, 04:59 PM

From the Spokesman-Review:

Gonzaga Women look to Continue Hot Start as Struggling Wyoming Visits Kennel
By Jim Allen
[email protected]
(509) 459-5437

The Gonzaga women are no longer in Hawaii, but they’re still in a pretty good place.

The Zags are 6-1, getting votes in the national polls and have a big home game next week against Washington State.

“It’s an important game, but I haven’t thought about WSU,” said Coach Lisa Fortier, whose team plays host against Wyoming on Friday night.

Fortier said it like she meant it – just as she and her players did two weeks ago, when they blew away Idaho State by 30 points instead of looking past the Bengals and the contest with Stanford.

As the GU men warmed up on the Kennel floor Thursday afternoon, Fortier took a seat talked about how well her team played in Hawaii.

In sweeping Utah, Eastern Illinois and host Hawaii, the Zags “moved the ball well and shot the ball decently,” Fortier said.

“And we have different players playing well, which speaks to the consistency and versatility of the team,” said Fortier, who pointed to the quality minutes produced by Maud Huibens – “our fifth post” – and freshman Bree Salenbien, who stepped up in Hawaii when starting point guard Kayleigh Truong suffered a knee injury late in the game against Eastern Michigan.

Truong is questionable for Friday’s game but the injury isn’t considered serious, Fortier said.

The Zags also got a big tournament from Kaylynne Truong, who won tournament MVP after averaging almost 13 points and shooting almost 50% from the field (14-for-29) and from long range (7-for-16).

Truong also averaged 4 assists and 4 rebounds.

“Moving into a starting role, we were a little bit nervous that it would throw her off,” Fortier said. “But she’s just playing basketball how she wants to play it: confident and composed.”

Regardless of Kayleigh Truong’s status, the Zags figure to be just that on Friday night.

You can read the rest of the article here: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/20...art-as-strugg/

ZagDad

**ZagDad84** · 12-03-2021, 12:01 PM

Going to the Wyoming game tonight?

Warm Clothing Drive TONIGHT

We are excited to see you for Gonzaga vs Wyoming tonight! As a reminder, doors for entry open at 4:30pm for the game. Please do your part to keep our community safe by wearing your mask in the McCarthey Athletic Center unless actively eating or drinking.

Warm Clothing Drive
The Gonzaga Student Athlete Advisory Committee is having their annual warm clothing drive TONIGHT at the women’s basketball game on against Wyoming. Please bring new or gently used coats, scarves, gloves, and socks to the game to benefit the local Spokane community.

If you have some unused, maybe undersized cold weather gear that is not being used, consider helping out the Spokane Community.

ZagDad

**upan8th** · 12-03-2021, 12:54 PM

Thanks, ZD, for your reminder. Appreciate your civic minded efforts. Hope the response is worthy.

**ZagDad84** · 12-03-2021, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by upan8th View Post

Thanks, ZD, for your reminder. Appreciate your civic minded efforts. Hope the response is worthy.

You more than welcome Up.

My purpose is two-fold. First and foremost to help the Spokane Community.

My second purpose is to remind those that take great offense of the Lady Zags kneeling during the National Anthem, the Lady Zags (staff and players) give a tremendous amount time to help the Spokane community. Whether it is a warm clothing drive (like tonight), working at the food bank putting together food boxes, cleaning up yards for the physical unable in the Logan neighborhood, Diaper Drives, Neighborhood Halloween Parties, Breast Cancer Awareness, etc.

The Lady Zags are far more than taking a knee. Look beyond their demonstration (if you disagree) and remember all the good the Lady Zags do for the community before you decide to no longer support the staff and team.

ZagDad

**SkipZag** · 12-03-2021, 08:16 PM

Well that was a fun evening….

There is nothing good that comes from taking a knee before a sporting event. It put a dark cloud over the game….

Sorry but this one is on Lisa…. Injustice has been around forever and will continue to be around forever…. People come to support the team, something that they don’t need to do.

Yes ZD they do a lot of positive things for the community. And that is why I don’t understand why they would do anything in a way that would be upsetting to many.

I wonder how many young people know the story behind the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. And if they had read all four verses of the poem. And understood why we adopted it as our National Anthem. Maybe they would understand why we stand with our hats off and our hands over our heart while it is played. And why we clap and cheer at the end.

There is a time and place of everything.

And if you didn’t think the booing didn’t have an effect on the team, then you didn’t notice them looking into the crowd.

Time to get back to basketball!!

Go Zags!!

**sittingon50** · 12-03-2021, 09:32 PM

Disagree Skip.

**ZagDad84** · 12-04-2021, 12:58 AM

What I don't understand is those that demand the loudest for their freedoms are so quick and loud to deny those same freedoms to others when the topic or the method of demonstration does not suit them.

I have my own opinions on the topic of social injustice which I have not shared here, but what I do know is the Lady Zags (staff and team) have the freedom and the right to demonstrate in the fashion that they see fit on what is really their only platform. If it makes some people uncomfortable, good. I even support those who choose to boo as long as they do not interrupt the national anthem, the only real disrespect that was shown last week. While those are booing, I will do my best to get my section standing, cheering and clapping in support of our Lady Zags. Not necessarily for the topic, not necessarily even for the method of demonstration but for the team's right to exercise their rights and freedoms. Just like you.

If you don't like the demonstration (method or topic), you don't have to attend the game, you can leave the stands for the national anthem and return after it is over, go to the bathroom, get some food or drink, or any other methods to avoid watching something which upsets you (the general "you"). Skip, you know better than most that you cannot satisfy everybody, particularly when the topic is contentious.

There is nothing good that comes from taking a knee before a sporting event. It put a dark cloud over the game….

Only for those few dozen who refuse to acknowledge the Lady Zags right to demonstrate.

Injustice has been around forever and will continue to be around forever…

You are unfortunately right, and it is a sad state of affairs.

Yes ZD they do a lot of positive things for the community. And that is why I don’t understand why they would do anything in a way that would be upsetting to many.

Because the topic is important to THEM. While you might care less, want to shove it under the carpet it is important to THEM.

And if you didn’t think the booing didn’t have an effect on the team, then you didn’t notice them looking into the crowd.

Never said this at all. I am sure the booing did not do any good at all. I wish the few dozen boo birds would allow the young ladies to exercise their rights and freedoms and get on with the game. You don't have to support them, but you have a choice to boo or not. This looks and sounds a lot like the local school board meetings, many airline flights, grocery stores, etc. when the vocal minority tries to intimidate the majority. The majority of us Zag fans will support our Lady Zags today, tomorrow and forever as long as they choose to exercise their rights.

As you said, back to basketball.

ZagDad

**ZagDad84** · 12-04-2021, 01:53 AM

Back to Basketball.

I am going to steal the headline from "The Slipper Still Fits" on the Zag Mbb game versus Tarleton as it seems very appropriate for the Lady Zag game versus Wyoming tonight:

Gonzaga barely polishes turd enough to defeat Wyoming, 54-47

It was a very physical game that had some really good defense mixed in with some total defensive lapses and an offense that worked like a V-8 operating on maybe 4 cylinders.

The defense was not really all that bad tonight. In fact, the defense had been very good in the entire first half until the last maybe 1:06 when the defense just left Ola Ustowska, totally alone at the top of the key and she hit three, 3s in just over a minute one right after another. For the first two, there was not a single zag in the same zip code, let along guarding Ola. The third 3, somebody finally decided to look toward the top of the key but by the time they decided to guard her, the shot was gone and went through the hoop. 9 points in just over a minute. A double digit lead was brought down to 5 at half. There were way too many instances where the Lady Zags got beat off the dribble and the ball handler took the ball straight to the hoop. Most of the time, the help defense was there (GU had 6 blocks tonight), but way too often the defense in the key did not turn around and let Wyoming shoot the uncontested lay-up. Then there was the Wyoming post who simply put her shoulder into the chest of MK, AV. YE or EH and drove into them once, twice, three times pushing them further into the key with each bump until she could make the lay-up. Despite the lapses on defense and the occasional "hope they miss" defense, only giving up 47 points is not going to lose you a game.

The offense, what there was of it, was very disjointed and not well organized. For sure there were times where they offense looked really good like the first 4.5 minutes of the 3rd quarter. The ball moved around the key, players drove into the key and passed the ball back out. Short jumpers, stop and pops, and even 3s were taken and made. It looked good. Then inexplicably the offense went to forcing the ball into the post, no matter how many Wyoming players sagged into the key. K-14 had 6 turnovers tonight, most of them from trying to force the ball into the post through one, two and even three Wyoming players. If you can't see the white shirt because of all the brown shirts, maybe passing the ball is not a good idea. When K-14 did get the ball inside, MK, YE and AV couldn't hang onto the ball or were so far under the basket they had not chance to make the lay-up (but that did not keep them from trying). For the most part, MK, YE and AV set up way too far under the basket leaving almost no room for the guards to get the ball inside. For large portions of the game, GU did not take a jumper of any length, continuing to try and force the ball inside. The less the Lady Zags shot the jumper, the deeper the Cowgirls sagged into the key. When the Zags took the jumpers and the 3s they forced Wyoming to guard them on the outside and the inside opened up. When they the Lady Zags refused to take the jumpers, they key got very crowed and the offense got really, really ugly and very stagnant.

I don't think the issues with either the offense and the defensive are issues which can't be fixed. Watch the game film, see what Wyoming was doing and make the appropriate adjustments. Also, Coach Fortier (CLF) played a bunch of different player combinations, some which worked well, some which worked o'k and others that did not work at all. K-11 did not play tonight, and I think the CLF is trying so many player combinations to try and find those combinations that work if K-11 is sidelined for longer than what is expected.

There were two issues with tonight's game which did bother me and they are related. First, Wyoming was clearly the more physical team. Wyoming had no trouble moving MK, YE, EH and AV around the key. I know that MK and YE are concerned about fouls, but you can't simply let the opposition shove you around the key and establish position. The second issue was in rebounding. The lady zags had been outrebounding the opponents by more than 10 rebounds a game. Tonight, Wyoming outrebounded the lady Zags. Rebounding is all about want and effort to establish rebounding position and tonight it was Wyoming that wanted it more and put forth much more effort than the Lady Zags. Rarely have I seen a Lady Zag team get shoved around like they were tonight. Hopefully this was just one of those "trap" games that the Lady Zags got caught looking forward to the WSU game. One thing is for sure, tonight's level of effort will not work against the Cougars.

Rest up, get the bumps and bruises taken care off and get ready for the Cougars. I am sure they want a piece of the Lady Zags, so you better be ready.

ZagDad

**ZagDad84** · 12-04-2021, 02:16 AM

Some Post Game Summaries:

From the Wyoming Athletic Department:

Cowgirls Fight at Gonzaga But Come Up Short, 54-47
SPOKANE, Wash. (Dec. 3, 2021) – The Wyoming Cowgirls gave Gonzaga all it could handle on its home floor Friday night, pushing the Bulldogs all night, but it was not enough as the Cowgirls fell, 54-47. Gonzaga entered the week receiving votes to be ranked in each top-25 poll.

After a slow-starting and turnover-riddled first quarter, the Cowgirls (3-4) trailed 14-6 after one quarter. However UW, thanks to Ola Ustowska's personal 9-0 run, took a 17-16 lead, which led to a Gonzaga (7-1) timeout with just under six minutes to play in the first half. Ustowska hit a trio of 3-pointers over a span of 1:06 to push the Cowgirls out front in the second quarter.

However Gonzaga was able to regain its footing later on in the period, ending the second on a 9-3 run to close out the first half as the Bulldogs took a 25-20 lead into halftime. Wyoming committed 11 turnovers in the game's first 20 minutes of action.

You can read the rest here: https://gowyo.com/news/2021/12/3/wom...ort-64-57.aspx

From the Slipper Still Fits:

Gonzaga guts out tough win over Wyoming, 54-47
The two teams combined for 36 turnovers.
By Peter [email protected]

The Gonzaga Bulldogs fought through a tough-minded Wyoming Cowgirl’s squad in a 54-47 win on Friday evening.

Ola Ustowska scored 17 points, shooting 4-for-5 from long range, including an and-one on a three-pointer with 1:30 left to close the gap to just four points. Yvonne Ejim turned the ball over on the subsequent possession, but the GU defense was able to get the ball on a tie-up, taking an additional 30 seconds off the clock.

Kaylynne Truong hit two free throws to give the Zags a 51-45 lead with 40 seconds left. The Gonzaga defense clamped in like it did the entire game, with Melody Kempton stealing the ball and draining one more free throws on the subsequent fouls to put the game away.

Defense was the name of the game for both teams. Wyoming turned the ball over 20 times and Gonzaga added to that party with 16 turnovers as well. The difference for the Zags was in the possession. Although the Zags only shot 42 percent from the floor, they were able to take a total of five additional shots, just enough to make the difference.

You can read the rest here: https://www.slipperstillfits.com/202...ens-basketball

**ZagDad84** · 12-04-2021, 02:27 AM

More Post Game Summaries:

From GoZags:

RV/RV WBB Handles Wyoming, 54-47
SPOKANE, Wash. – In the first game back home since Nov. 21, the Gonzaga women's basketball team defeated Wyoming, 54-47.

Three Zags scored in double digits, including senior Melody Kempton with 13 points, six rebounds and a career-high four blocks. Junior Kaylynne Truong scored 11 with five assists and sophomore Yvonne Ejim recorded 10 points and five rebounds.

Kempton got the Zags on the board to tie the game at 2-2 with six minutes left in the first. The Bulldogs then went on a 6-0 run to take an early lead over the Cowgirls. Ejim closed out the quarter with a last-second jumper to take a 14-6 lead after ten minutes.

Kempton and senior Abby O'Connor led the team in the first with four points each as the Zags shot at a 54.5 percent from the field. The team also forced six turnovers and scored another six points off those.

In the second quarter, Wyoming went on a 9-0 run to take a one-point lead with five minutes remaining in the half. The Zags responded with a jumper and a three-pointer from Kaylynne Truong to take the lead back before Wyoming drained another three to regain the lead.

After a pair of free throws and a second-chance layup from Ejim, the Bulldogs claimed the lead back at 25-20 going into the locker rooms at halftime.

You can read the rest here: https://gozags.com/news/2021/12/3/wo...ing-54-47.aspx

From the Spokesman Review:

Gonzaga women overcome shaky offensive performance to beat Wyoming
By Jim Allen
[email protected]
(509) 459-5437

From start to finish, it was an uncomfortable evening for the Gonzaga women.

Friday night’s nonconference game against Wyoming opened with boos from dozens of fans as several players continued to kneel during the playing of the national anthem.

“I understand that people are upset that some people are kneeling,” coach Lisa Fortier said after the game. “But we live in a free country where there is freedom of speech, so I can’t be upset.

“And I know they support us in our games.”

Indeed, the players also heard the cheers from the crowd of 3,100, especially in the fourth quarter, as the heavily favored Zags (7-1) finally pulled away from the Cowgirls for a 54-47 win.

Playing without starting point guard Kayleigh Truong, who suffered a knee injury last weekend in Hawaii, the Zags looked disjointed on offense for much of the game.

GU shot 42% from the field and 33% on 3-pointers and was outrebounded 31-29.

The big plays came at the other end of the court. Trailing by four points with 1 minute, 10 seconds left, Wyoming had a chance to make it a one-possession game.

The Cowgirls (3-4), however, couldn’t get a decent look. As the shot clock wound down, the Zags forced a held ball with 45 seconds to play.

You can read the rest here: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/20...e-performance/

You can see the Spokesman-Review Picture Gallery here: https://www.spokesman.com/galleries/...ng-dec-3-2021/

ZagDad

**SkipZag** · 12-04-2021, 08:40 AM

ZD….I can’t let your comment go without a response on shoveling it under the carpet… I grew up and went to college in the 60s….
I’m sure it is important to them and would expect them to support things that are very important to them.

Jim Allen’s article was spot on… it made it uncomfortable for the evening… and we would rather stand and sing the National Anthem than step away!

I’m concerned for our fan base… GU WBB has worked hard over the years to grow their fan base. Their kneeling has made it to the press and today people just want to have a good time without all the protests and politics. GU’s administration and Lisa needs to understand that. I know it’s a fine line but the players need to know and understand the down side and cost.

As for the game…. Not good… time to get after it and WSU.

Go Zag!!

**GonzaGAW** · 12-04-2021, 09:50 AM

- agree with zagdad, who cannot, the players have a right to express themselves and they think this is the best platform to do it.
- agree with skip, i think these young ladies are miss guided to do so by kneeling during the national anthem.

- i think skip's point on to what good comes from taking a knee? all it does is express your opinion on a subject. it does not correct or change the injustice that you see.
- the ladies could be raising money to help combat injustice, they could support civic efforts to defund the police, they could lobby their legislators for change in laws.
- rightly expressing themselves by kneeling in my opinion does not help, in fact i think it is a divisive act, something that does not help their cause.

- i do not mind so much the girls form this country kneeling, but i confess it rankles me to see all the foreign zag players kneeling.
- my suggestion is the players do what the 'entire' stanford team does, they excuse themselves from the court during the national anthem.

- hey just my opinion on a delicate subject. i know many disagree and have other opinions. those are welcomed. i hope nobody feels as though i'm throwing rocks at them. not my intention.

**ZagDad84** · 12-04-2021, 03:32 PM

Thanks Skip and GonzaGAW for the discussion.

It appears we all agree that:
- The Lady Zags have the right to select whatever social (or any other) cause they (as a team) choose to support.
- The Lady Zags have the right to show support for their cause(s) in the form that they may chose.
- If the cause and/or the method selected to show support for the cause is divisive there will be division among the Zag supporters.
- Other methods of support for the cause could (maybe likely) would be less divisive.

If you have read or listened to CLF's discussion on the issue of social injustice and a minority of the crowd booing, then you know that while the team, as a whole, is in full agreement in the support of the cause of social injustice, each individual has elected how they, individually chose to show support for the cause. Approximately half the team has elected to kneel, about half the team does not. It is an individual choice whether to kneel or not. There is no team mandate to kneel or no team mandate to stand.

GonzaGAW, social injustice, particularly in sports is much more of a problem in many countries in Western Europe than it is here in the US. Soccer games have had to be canceled, moved out of the home team country, played in front of no fans, all because of unacceptable behavior of the crowd, usually due to racial taunts, throwing objects at foreign (using black) players, etc. The kneeling during the national anthem started her in America, is not limited to America. The symbol of kneeling is used all over the world during the national anthems and is well known to the foreign born players, so it is not unexpected that kneeling during the anthem is their method of choice to show support for social injustice.

Skip, who "made it uncomfortable for the evening?" Was it eight young ladies kneeling quietly during the playing of the national anthem or the 2 or 3 dozen boo birds who felt they had to let the team know they did not like the demonstration of support for their cause. I personally see the booing to be little more than bad behavior on the part of 2- 3-dozen fans. They need to remember they are just a guest in the Lady Zag house. Honestly Skip, it appears to me that you are placing the "blame" for the uncomfortable evening and the solution on the Lady Zags when the blame should really be placed on the behavior of the Boo Birds. There was no clear sense of support for the cause or demonstration UNTIL the boo birds got into full song, then they were drowned out by the cheers and claps of support for the lady zags.

Yes, the Lady Zags certainly could choose to show support for the cause in different ways and try and placate the "entire" fan base, I would certainly support an alternative method of display and maybe this would be best and easiest. Equally, the boo birds could choose to show their displeasure in any number of ways other than booing as well; turn their backs, leave the seating area in mass, not attend the game, etc. IMO it takes a lot of balls to not only place the blame on the eight young women quietly kneeling or the head coach who has chosen not to dictate how her team should show support for their cause for the "uncomfortable" feeling in the Kennel but also the responsibility for fixing the issue on them as well.

We should all keep in mind that these are late teen and early 20-something young women. They do not have the luxury of experience of some of us old farts. Maybe keeping in mind the famous quote by French Premier Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929) would help:

“Not to be a socialist at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head.”

As we all did at that age, these young women will make mistakes along the way, this may or may not be one of them. Give them the benefit of the doubt, offer to educate them, but you do not have to be an a** and boo them in their house, for supporting their cause in the manner they choose. Contrary to the current mantra, a little bit of tolerance is not necessarily a bad thing.

ZagDad

Announcement

RV/RV WBB Hosts Wyoming this Friday

RV/RV WBB Hosts Wyoming this Friday

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