Gonzaga University
UC Riverside
11/7/2026 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SUNDAY, NOV. 8 | 2 P.M. | SPOKANE, WA | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER
RADIO: 101.5 FM |Â GAME NOTES
TV: YouTube | LIVE STATS
THE TIPOFF
- Gonzaga welcomes UC Riverside to the McCarthey Athletic Center Sunday, Nov. 8, for a 2 p.m. tipoff. The Zags are 1-1 after opening the season with a 62-56 win over North Dakota State before falling 86-75 to Idaho.
- 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 WCC Tournament title and earned their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Head coach Lisa Fortier enters her 13th season with a 314-85 career record (.787 winning percentage). She is two wins away from tying Kelly Graves' program record of 316 victories.
- Lauren Whittaker is averaging 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds through two games. She opened the season with a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double against North Dakota State and added 14 points and seven rebounds against Idaho.
- Allie Turner is averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 assists through two games. She scored a game-high 23 points against Idaho, including four three-pointers, and became the newest member of Gonzaga's 1,000-point club.
- Turner has scored 1,004 career points and has made 200 career three-pointers.
- Gonzaga is shooting 40.8% from the field and 31.6% from three-point range through two games. The Bulldogs are averaging 68.5 points and 15.5 assists per game.
- The Zags showed their resilience against Idaho, outscoring the Vandals 29-17 in the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as 24 points.
- Gonzaga finished with 14 assists and 10 steals against Idaho while forcing 17 turnovers. Taylor Smith added 12 points and five rebounds, while Lauren Whittaker contributed 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
- The Zags return a Pac-12-leading 10 players from last season, including all five starters.
THE SERIESALL-TIME: Gonzaga leads 9-1
HOME: 5-0
AWAY: 4-0
NEUTRAL: 0-1
LAST MEETING: GU won 68-62 at UC Riverside on Dec. 21, 2025.
FIRST MEETING: GU won 73-67 at home in 2001.
UNDER COACH FORTIER: 2-0
STREAK: W5
LAST TWO GAMES IN THE KENNEL
- Gonzaga opened the 2026-27 season with a 62-56 victory over North Dakota State on Nov. 2 inside the McCarthey Athletic Center before falling 86-75 to Idaho on Nov. 6. The Zags enter Sunday's matchup with a 1-1 record.
- Junior Lauren Whittaker picked up where she left off last season, recording a double-double with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds against North Dakota State. She followed with 14 points and seven rebounds against Idaho.
- 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 15.5 points per game through two contests, including a team-high 23 points against Idaho. Turner connected on four three-pointers against the Vandals and added five assists.
- Taylor Smith is averaging 11.0 points per game after scoring 10 against North Dakota State and 12 against Idaho. She added five rebounds against the Vandals.
- Gonzaga is averaging 68.5 points per game while shooting 40.8% from the field and 31.6% from three-point range. The Zags are also averaging 17.5 assists, 9.0 steals and 34.5 rebounds per game.
- The Bulldogs have recorded 35 assists on 49 made field goals through two games. Gonzaga has also forced 21 turnovers per game and is averaging 12.5 turnovers of its own.
- Against Idaho, the Zags scored 29 points in the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as 24. Gonzaga finished with 14 assists and 10 steals.
SCOUTING UC RIVERSIDE
- UC Riverside enters Sunday's matchup with a 1-1 record after opening the season with an 83-40 win over Occidental on Nov. 3 before falling 80-55 at Seattle U on Nov. 6.
- The Highlanders are averaging 69.0 points per game while allowing 60.0 points per contest.
- UC Riverside is shooting 37.4% from the field, 23.3% from three-point range and 72.0% at the free-throw line through two games.
- The Highlanders average 33.5 rebounds per game and are being outrebounded by an average of 10.0 boards per contest. Opponents are averaging 43.5 rebounds.
- UC Riverside averages 13.0 assists and 16.5 turnovers per game. The Highlanders have been active defensively, averaging 14.5 steals and 5.5 blocks per contest.
- The Highlanders have forced 28.0 turnovers per game through their first two contests.
- UC Riverside scored 83 points in its season-opening win over Occidental, but was held to 55 points in its loss at Seattle U.
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 have averaged 17.5 through the first two 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, giving her averages of 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game through two 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.
- Turner is averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 assists per game through Gonzaga's first two 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 200 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 Sunday's game with 1,004 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 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.
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 opened the 2026-27 season with six points, three rebounds and two assists against North Dakota State.
- 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 and five rebounds against Idaho.
- Teryn Gardner scored nine points in the season opener, connecting on three three-pointers while adding four assists and a steal. Gardner appeared in all 34 games last season, averaging 6.0 points per contest.
- 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 314-85 career record.
- Fortier is now just two victories away from tying Kelly Graves' program record of 316 wins and three 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 seven 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, two 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.
