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The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Loaded Gonzaga women will be team to beat in rebuilt Pac-12
- Story byThe Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- Loaded Gonzaga women will be team to beat in rebuilt Pac-12
Oct. 29—The Gonzaga women's basketball team should discover that many hands make lighter work this season.
Like 10 sets of hands — and maybe a couple more sets depending on the impact of transfers and a freshman.
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All five starters return from a team that finished 24-10 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Truth is the Bulldogs have seven players capable of starting. And the other three will likely give coach Lisa Fortier pause when it comes to doling out playing time.
The Zags' abundance of talent begins with 6-foot-3 forward Lauren Whittaker, who broke onto the scene last year as a redshirt freshman and was a force that West Coast Conference teams couldn't contain. She was named the WCC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
Whittaker is listed as a junior on this year's roster. Gonzaga is being compliant with the NCAA's new eligibility rules. Whittaker, who has exhausted a redshirt and used a medical waiver, can play three more years.
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She led the Zags with 19.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game less than a year after having knee surgery. There's no telling what Whittaker can do with a second year of strength added to her knee.
"It's been so nice not to rehab anything," Whittaker said. "I've gotten to work a lot on my fitness and stamina. I didn't really get a summer workout session (last year) because I was just rehabbing the whole time."
Floating on the perimeter and causing opponents frustration is junior guard Allie Turner, who will start for a third straight season.
An All-WCC first-team selection, Turner was the second-leading 3-point shooter in the nation last season and key to Gonzaga finishing as the top 3-point shooting team, a spot ahead of powerhouse UConn. Turner shot 47.1%, making 89 of 189. The Zags converted 39.2% (244 of 623).
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Turner averaged 14.8 points, second best, and 3.5 assists per game.
It was thought Gonzaga would need to replace just one starter. But guard Ines Bettencourt, who graduated last spring, has been granted a fifth season through the NCAA's new 5-in-5 eligibility model. Bettencourt and 70 other player plaintiffs in the California-based Glancey vs. NCAA lawsuit were granted a preliminary injunction by a California Superior Court judge. She's still potentially awaiting final clearance from the courts.
A transfer from UConn, Bettencourt, one of Gonzaga's best defensive players, averaged 6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Bettencourt became a strong voice among teammates last season. That should continue this season. She'll get some assistance from Whittaker and Turner.
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The Zags' other two returning starters, seniors Taylor Smith (forward) and Zeryia Aokuso (guard), had flashes of brilliance last season. Smith should be much more effective and dangerous teaming with Whittaker in the high-low sets, and watch for Aokuso to play the point at times and create offense with her ability to get to the rim.
Forward Jaiden Haile, who was named the WCC's Sixth Woman of the Year as a freshman last year, and junior guard Teryn Gardner played key roles off the bench. They would start for many teams, and don't be surprised if either steps into a starting role at some point this year.
Senior forward McKynnlie Dalan, junior guard Christabel Osarobo and sophomore Julia Wilson round out the 10 returners. They will be fighting for minutes off the bench.
Joining the Zags are junior transfer guards Emmy Roach (Rider) and Jocelyn Medina (Denver) and freshman forward Abby Lusk, from Pocatello, Idaho. All three had solid minutes at FanFest.
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"We have players who can make plays, who can make shots, who can rebound," Fortier said. "We're going to be able to play a lot of them and a lot of them are gonna be able to make an impact."
With a team loaded with experience, preseason practices have allowed the Zags to pick up where they left off.
"We're still gonna play with two forwards, we're still gonna run the floor, we're still gonna shoot a bunch of 3s," Fortier said. "But within that context it does afford us an opportunity to wiggle a little bit and tinker."
Gonzaga won't have any difficulty scoring, and the Zags will look to push the pace whenever they can. But they must cut down on turnovers and improve defensively.
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"Defensively we can be a lot better," Turner said, pointing the finger squarely at herself.
The Zags were ranked 49th by Bart Torvik, whose analytical data is similar to the KenPom rankings in men's basketball. No other non-Power Four school was represented in Torvik's top 50.
Gonzaga is heavily favored to win the Pac-12 Conference in its first year in the rebuilt league.
It's likely just the Pac-12 Tournament winner will earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament. The conference doesn't have the credentials that the men's teams have at this point.
The Zags don't want to just get to the NCAA Tournament, though. They want to do something no other Gonzaga team has done — get to the Elite Eight, if not further.
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"Win the conference tournament, make it to postseason and then hopefully get further than a game there this year," Turner said.
Said Whittaker: "Everyone got a taste of what it's like to be at the (NCAA) Tournament and everyone wants more. So it's just elevating from what we had last year. We've built that foundation. No excuses. We've been together for a year."
