Gonzaga women survive San Francisco in four-overtime thriller

Mar 23, 2014; College Station, TX, USA; James Madison Dukes guard Kirby Burkholder (R) battles for the ball with Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Shaniqua Nilles (22) during the second half of a women

Good things come to those that wait.

For the Lady Zags, it took a combination of big shots and a will to win. Gonzaga (19-4, 12-0 WCC) held on to beat the Dons 91-84 after four overtimes in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The game set several records. To date, it is the longest women’s college basketball game this season. It also marked the longest Gonzaga basketball game (men’s or women’s) since the men went to four overtimes in 1978. The game was also the longest game ever played in the McCarthey Athletic Center’s ten-year history.

Four Lady Zags scored in double figures. Keani Albanez led the way with 20 points. Sunny Greinacher, Elle Tinkle, and Emma Stach also scored double digits.

There were 21 lead changes and 14 ties. After leading 31-30 at halftime, GU built a ten-point lead early in the second half. USF climbed back in and tied the game with one second left in regulation.

Two points were scored by both teams in the first overtime. Down three, Lindsay Sherbert hit a game-tying three for GU with nine seconds left in double overtime. Aundrea Gordon responded with a game-tying three for USF with eight seconds left in the third overtime. A 13-6 run led by Stach pushed the Lady Zags to victory.

The Bulldogs extend their winning streak to 13 games. San Francisco (14-10, 5-8 WCC) drops its eighth conference game and remains in sixth place.

This game will be remembered for years to come. I know I will remember it.

WHAT’S NEXT

Gonzaga travels to Loyola Marymount on Thursday.

San Francisco travels to Santa Clara on Saturday.