Round 16 loss to #1 Texas ends the women’s team for #4 Gonzaga, 69-47.
Portland, Oregon – Unfortunately, the fourth-seeded Gonzaga women’s basketball team’s NCAA tournament run came to an end in the 16th round after a hard-fought game against the first-seeded Texas Longhorns.
They were hoping to defeat the Longhorns and move on to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. Regretfully, they were unable to stop their offense or make shots against their defense.
Madison Booker’s leap to open the first quarter gave the Longhorns an early advantage. Bulldogs rallied swiftly, led by a stunning three-pointer from Brianna Maxwell that raised spirits on the court.
But Texas led by nine points at the end of the first half. The Longhorns’ offensive was too much for the Bulldogs to contain. They only made two of their eleven tries at shoots in the first ten minutes.
Gonzaga’s poor performance persisted as they made eight turnovers and only three field goals in the opening fifteen minutes of play. The Bulldogs were forced to play hesitantly on the floor as Texas’ defense forced them out of their comfort zone as they went nine minutes without making a field goal.
With a three-pointer from Shaylee Gonzales to close off the first half, Texas led the Longhorns 10–2 and showed their continued dominance. The first-seeded squad continued to play well in the first half, making 14 of 27 shots from the field, demonstrating outstanding shot selection.
Hollingsworth made a layup, followed by another excellent three-pointer from Maxwell. The Longhorns continued to make every possession matter, even if the Zags enjoyed advantages in the first six possessions.
The Bulldogs managed a little rally in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to close the deficit. Agim’s rapid layup in the last ten minutes of play pulled the score within double digits, although her six points came from free throws.
Three players scored ten points or more for the Longhorns, led by Shaylee Gonzales (15 points), Aliyah Moore (16 points), and Shay Holley (12 points). They won the game for their team, and they will now play NC State in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals.
The 16th round match ended with the Zags losing to Texas 69-47 to cap off their trip.
The Bulldogs put up a valiant fight to the very end, but they had trouble making the kind of shots they wanted to. They made 4 of 22 three-pointers, shot 26.5% from the field, and shot 85% from the free-throw line.
Regretfully, Gonzaga’s five players participated in their final game during the 16th round. Rather than lamenting over what might have been, they might take solace in all of this team’s successes during the 2023–24 campaign.
In program history, the Gonzaga women’s basketball team has proven to be among the greatest. With a 32-4 record, they achieved their finest season to date and broke other program records.
Head coach Lisa Fortier will have to assemble another strong and competitive squad for the 2024–25 season, with only Yvonne Agim returning as they celebrate this historic season.
