Gonzaga University
Grand Canyon
11/10/2026 2:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FRIDAY, NOV. 13 | 5 P.M. PT | PHOENIX, AZ |Â GLOBAL CREDIT UNION ARENA
RADIO: 101.5 FM |Â GAME NOTES
TV: CW and ESPN UNLIMITEDÂ | LIVE STATS
THE TIPOFF
- Gonzaga heads to Phoenix for its first road game of the 2026-27 season, taking on Grand Canyon Friday, Nov. 13, at 5 p.m. Pacific at Global Credit Union Arena. The Zags enter at 2-1.
- Gonzaga is in its inaugural season in the Pac-12 after finishing 2025-26 at 24-10 overall and 14-4 in WCC play. The Zags won their 11th conference tournament title and earned their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Head coach Lisa Fortier enters her 13th season with a 315-85 career record (.788 winning percentage). She is one win away from tying Kelly Graves' program record of 316 victories.
- Lauren Whittaker leads Gonzaga at 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game through three contests. She recorded 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds against UC Riverside.
- Allie Turner is averaging 15.0 points and 4.0 assists through three games. She scored a team-high 23 points against Idaho and added 14 against UC Riverside.
- Gonzaga is averaging 74.0 points per game while shooting 42.7% from the field and 31.7% from three-point range. The Bulldogs are averaging 39.3 rebounds and 18.7 assists per game.
- The Zags are averaging 11.7 steals per game and have forced 18.7 turnovers per contest through the first three games.
- Against UC Riverside, Gonzaga had four players score in double figures and recorded 21 assists, 17 steals and 49 rebounds in an 85-58 victory.
- Grand Canyon enters Friday's game 2-0 after opening with wins over Jackson State (77-55) and Oregon (81-74). The Lopes are averaging 79.0 points per game.
- Gonzaga leads the all-time series 2-0, including a 62-58 win in Spokane on Dec. 4, 2025. Friday marks the Zags' first road game of the season.
THE SERIES
ALL-TIME: Gonzaga leads 2-0
HOME: 2-0
AWAY: 0-0
NEUTRAL: 0-0
LAST MEETING: GU won 62-58 at home on Dec. 4, 2025.
FIRST MEETING: GU won 70-44 at home on Nov. 23, 2015.
UNDER COACH FORTIER: 2-0
STREAK: W2
LAST THREE GAMES
- Gonzaga opened the 2026-27 season with a 62-56 victory over North Dakota State on Nov. 2, fell 86-75 to Idaho on Nov. 6 and responded with an 85-58 win over UC Riverside on Nov. 8. The Zags enter Friday's road game at Grand Canyon with a 2-1 record.
- Junior Lauren Whittaker leads Gonzaga at 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She opened with 22 points and 10 rebounds against North Dakota State and recorded a game-high 14 rebounds against UC Riverside.
- Against North Dakota State, the Bulldogs overcame an 11-point deficit, outscoring the Bison 28-15 in the fourth quarter to secure their first victory of the season.
- Teryn Gardner provided a spark from beyond the arc in the opener, connecting on three three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Gardner hit the go-ahead three with 5:15 remaining to give Gonzaga a 48-47 advantage.
- Allie Turner leads Gonzaga with 15.0 points per game through three contests, including a team-high 23 points against Idaho. Turner has made eight three-pointers and is averaging 4.0 assists.
- Taylor Smith is averaging 11.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She scored 12 points against both Idaho and UC Riverside, adding seven rebounds in the win over the Highlanders.
- Gonzaga is averaging 74.0 points per game while shooting 42.7% from the field and 31.7% from three-point range. The Zags are also averaging 18.7 assists, 11.7 steals and 39.3 rebounds per game.
- The Bulldogs have recorded 56 assists on 79 made field goals through three games.Â
- Against UC Riverside, the Zags scored 30 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 assists, 17 steals and 49 rebounds in the 85-58 victory.
SCOUTING GRAND CANYON
- Grand Canyon enters Friday's matchup with a 2-0 record after opening the season with a 77-55 win over Jackson State on Nov. 4 before defeating Oregon 81-74 on Nov. 9.
- The Lopes are averaging 79.0 points per game while allowing 64.5 points per contest.
- Grand Canyon is shooting 41.0% from the field, 44.7% from three-point range and 90.0% at the free-throw line through two games.
- The Lopes average 41.0 rebounds per game and are outrebounding opponents by 11.5 boards per contest. Opponents are averaging 29.5 rebounds.
- Grand Canyon averages 17.0 assists and 14.5 turnovers per game. The Lopes are averaging 5.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per contest.
- Nyadieng Yiech leads Grand Canyon at 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. T'yana Todd averages 13.0 points, while Dasha Biriuk is averaging 11.5 points and has made five three-pointers through two games.
- Grand Canyon's two wins have come against Jackson State and Oregon, with the Lopes scoring at least 77 points in each contest.
PRESEASON HONORS
- Gonzaga was selected first in the 2026-27 Pac-12 Preseason Media Poll, earning the top spot among nine conference teams.
- Allie Turner and Lauren Whittaker were named to the Pac-12 Preseason Impact List, joining 18 players recognized across the conference.
- Junior forward Lauren Whittaker was named to the Katrina McClain Award Preseason Watch List, recognizing the nation's top power forwards. She was one of 20 players selected nationally.
- Whittaker was also named to the Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, one of 50 players nationally and the lone Pac-12 representative.
- Whittaker earned a spot on the Becky Hammon Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List, one of 25 players nationally recognized for the award honoring the nation's top player outside the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and SEC.
- Head coach Lisa Fortier was named to the Kathy Delaney-Smith Coach of the Year Preseason Watch List, one of 20 coaches nationally. Fortier previously won the award following the 2023-24 season.
A NEW ERA IN THE PAC-12
- Gonzaga women's basketball is competing in its inaugural season in the Pac-12 Conference in 2026-27 after officially joining the league on July 1, 2026.
- The new-look Pac-12 features nine members: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State and Washington State.
- The Bulldogs will play a 16-game conference schedule, featuring eight home games and eight road contests.
- Gonzaga opens Pac-12 play on Jan. 6 against Oregon State inside the McCarthey Athletic Center.
BUILDING ON LAST SEASON
- Gonzaga finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 overall record and a 14-4 mark in West Coast Conference play.
- The Bulldogs posted a 12-3 home record and went a perfect 9-0 at home against conference opponents.
- Gonzaga averaged 74.1 points per game while holding opponents to 65.0 points per contest, finishing with a +9.1 scoring margin.
- The Zags shot 45.2% from the field and led the nation with a 39.2% three-point percentage, making 244 three-pointers.
- Gonzaga outrebounded opponents by 10.7 boards per game, averaging 40.9 rebounds compared to 30.2 for its opponents.
- The Bulldogs averaged 16.9 assists per game last season and are averaging 18.7 through the first three games of 2026-27.
WHITTAKER CONTINUES TO DOMINATE
- Lauren Whittaker opened her junior campaign with a double-double against North Dakota State, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in Gonzaga's 62-56 victory.
- Whittaker added 14 points and seven rebounds against Idaho before recording 14 points and 14 rebounds against UC Riverside. She is averaging 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game through three contests.
- Whittaker put together one of the most impressive freshman seasons in Gonzaga history in 2025-26, leading the Bulldogs with 19.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
- Whittaker finished last season with 649 points, 348 rebounds and 43 steals while shooting 53.6% from the field.
- Against Oregon State on Jan. 22, Whittaker scored a career-high 37 points, setting the Gonzaga freshman single-game scoring record. She finished 12-of-26 from the field and 12-of-14 from the free-throw line.
- Whittaker was named the WCC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, becoming just the second freshman in conference history to earn Player of the Year honors.
- She also collected 12 WCC Freshman of the Week awards, tying the conference single-season record, and earned USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week recognition.
- Through games played Nov. 5, Whittaker ranked 49th nationally and first in the Pac-12 in scoring at 22.0 points per game. She also ranked seventh nationally and first in the conference in double-doubles.
Note: Due to recent changes in NCAA eligibility rules regarding redshirt seasons, Lauren Whittaker is classified as a junior for the 2026-27 season.
A.T. = AUTOMATIC FROM THREE
- Allie Turner opened her junior season with eight points, five assists and three rebounds against North Dakota State, connecting on two three-pointers in the victory.
- Turner followed with a team-high 23 points against Idaho, making four three-pointers and adding five assists. She added 14 points against UC Riverside.
- Turner is averaging 15.0 points and 4.0 assists per game through Gonzaga's first three contests.
- Turner enters her junior campaign after shooting 47.1% from three-point range in 2025-26, connecting on 89 threes in 34 games.
- Against Saint Mary's on Feb. 26, Turner tied the Gonzaga single-game record with nine made three-pointers, finishing 9-of-14 from beyond the arc.
- Turner has now made 202 career three-pointers, including a program-record 105 during her freshman season in 2024-25.
- Turner surpassed the 1,000-point mark against Idaho and enters Friday's game with 1,018 career points.
- Turner earned First Team All-WCC honors for the second consecutive season in 2025-26.
TRIPLE THREATS ALL AROUND
- Gonzaga connected on five three-pointers in its season-opening victory over North Dakota State, including three from Teryn Gardner and two from Allie Turner.
- The Bulldogs found their rhythm from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter against North Dakota State, shooting 75% (3-of-4) from deep while outscoring the Bison 28-15.
- Gonzaga made seven three-pointers against Idaho, with Turner connecting on four.- The Bulldogs added seven three-pointers against UC Riverside, with Turner and Gardner each making multiple threes.
- The Zags finished the 2025-26 season leading the nation in three-point percentage, shooting 39.2% from beyond the arc while converting 244 of their 623 attempts.
- Turner led the Bulldogs with 89 made three-pointers last season, while Gardner ranked second with 52, shooting 46.0% from beyond the arc.
BALL MOVEMENT
- Gonzaga ranks 49th nationally and first in the Pac-12 in assists per game (18.7), according to the NCAA rankings released Nov. 10.
- The Bulldogs have recorded 56 assists through three games, averaging 18.7 per contest.
- Allie Turner leads Gonzaga with 12 assists, while Lauren Whittaker is second with 11.
- Gonzaga has recorded 20 assists against UC Riverside, its highest single-game total of the season.
EXPERIENCE RETURNS
- Gonzaga returns a Pac-12-leading 10 players from last season's roster, including all five starters, after winning 24 games and advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2025-26.
- Inês Bettencourt enters her fifth season after starting all 33 games she appeared in last year, averaging 6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
- Zeryhia Aokuso started all 34 games last season, averaging 8.4 points and 2.2 assists per contest. She has scored 21 points through Gonzaga's first three games.
- Taylor Smith opened her senior campaign with 10 points and four assists against North Dakota State, shooting 5-of-7 from the field. She added 12 points against both Idaho and UC Riverside.
- Teryn Gardner scored nine points in the season opener, connecting on three three-pointers while adding four assists and a steal. She scored 14 points and had five steals against UC Riverside.
- Turner and Bettencourt combined for 218 assists last season, while Turner and Whittaker accounted for 1,152 points.
THE ROAD TO LAS VEGAS
- The Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament will take place March 9-13, 2027, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
- All nine Pac-12 women's basketball programs are scheduled to participate in the conference tournament.
- Gonzaga closes its inaugural Pac-12 regular season on March 6 against Washington State inside the McCarthey Athletic Center.
FORTIER CLOSING IN ON ALL-TIME WINS RECORD
- Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier is in her 13th season leading the Bulldogs and holds a 315-85 career record following the win over UC Riverside.
- Fortier is now one victory away from tying Kelly Graves' program record of 316 wins and two away from becoming the winningest head coach in Gonzaga women's basketball history.
- Fortier earned her 300th career victory on Jan. 2, 2026, against Seattle U, becoming the fastest coach in Gonzaga history to reach the milestone.
- Fortier reached 300 wins in her 379th career game, matching LSU's Kim Mulkey for the fastest among active Division I women's basketball head coaches.
- Fortier has recorded 11 20-win seasons in her first 12 years leading the program, including a 24-win campaign in 2025-26.
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
- Gonzaga is scheduled to make eight national television appearances during the 2026-27 regular season as the Bulldogs enter their first year in the Pac-12 Conference.
- The national television schedule features four games on USA Network, three on The CW and one on CBS Sports Network.
- An additional eight Gonzaga games are scheduled to air locally on SWX.
- Pac-12 home games not selected for national television will be available to stream for free on Pac-12 platforms.Â
WITHOUT LIMITS: 2026-27 GONZAGA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DOCUSERIES
- Gonzaga women's basketball launched Without Limits – The 2026-27 Gonzaga Women's Basketball Docuseries, a 16-episode series offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the Bulldogs throughout the season.
- The series is a collaboration with Gonzaga University, giving students hands-on experience in filming, editing and producing each episode while telling the story of Gonzaga women's basketball.
- New episodes are released Mondays at noon, beginning Nov. 9, with the series running through March 1. Episodes are available on YouTube.com and shared across Gonzaga women's basketball's social media channels (@ZagWBB) and GoZags.com.
