The Gonzaga women will hit almost every point in the compass this season.<\/p>\n
Released on Monday, the Zags nonconference schedule includes trips to Wyoming, Texas and Northern California.<\/p>\n
The highlight of the nonconference season might just be a trip to Paradise.<\/p>\n
On Nov. 19-21, Gonzaga will play three games in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Brackets havent been announced yet, but the eight-team field is loaded with power programs such as Tennessee, Texas and Louisville. Other teams are Marquette, Rutgers, South Dakota State and UCLA.<\/p>\n
The nonconference schedule calls for eight games at the McCarthey Athletic Center. It opens with an exhibition game against Division II Western Washington on Nov. 4.<\/p>\n
On Nov. 10, the Zags host Long Beach State for the first time in program history before hosting Big Sky Conference program Southern Utah on Nov. 12.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs will hit the road for the first time on Nov. 15 when they visit Wyoming. Last season, GU held off the Cowgirls, 54-47, in Spokane.<\/p>\n
Four days later, the Zags will be on Paradise Island for their second straight tropical-zone tournament. Last year at the Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Honolulu, the Zags swept Utah, Eastern Illinois and host Hawaii to win the trophy.<\/p>\n
The team returns home on Nov. 26 to take on Eastern Washington, a program theyve beaten 17 straight times. Two days later, GU will host Maine in the programs first meeting.<\/p>\n
Gonzaga then goes on the road for the next two games to Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 1 and then to perennial power Stanford on Dec. 4.<\/p>\n
GU met the Cardinal twice last season, losing 66-62 in the Kennel in a previously schedule meeting and 66-50 in an add-on game at Stanford.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs return home to close out the nonconference slate against Queens University of North Carolina on Dec. 6, UC Davis on Dec. 11, and Montana on Dec. 21.<\/p>\n
By that time GU will already have played two West Coast Conference games. The Zags host BYU on Dec. 15 and San Diego on Dec. 17.<\/p>\n
Missing from the schedule is regional rival Washington State. The Zags and Cougs have met 11 straight seasons, with GU going 7-4 in that stretch. WSU won the most recent meeting, 51-49, on Dec. 8 in the Kennel.<\/p>\n
Game times will be released at a later date.<\/p>\n
Gonzaga is coming off a 27-7 season that included a WCC tournament title and a first-round win over Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament. The Zags fell at No. 1 seed Louisville, 68-59, in the second round.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, the Zags must replace four starters in Melody Kempton, Anamaria Virjoghe, Cierra Walker and Abby OConnor.<\/p>\n
The challenge isnt as daunting as it first appears, however, because backups Kaylynne Truong and Yvonne Ejim played starter-level minutes anyway and will move seamlessly into the lineup alongside starting point guard Kayleigh Truong.<\/p>\n
In the frontcourt, backups Eliza Hollingsworth and Maud Huijbens appear to have the best chance of seeing significant time, or even starting.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Follow this link:<\/p>\n
Gonzaga women's basketball to make trips to California, Texas, Wyoming and The Bahamas during nonconference schedule - NBC Right Now<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Gonzaga women will hit almost every point in the compass this season. Released on Monday, the Zags nonconference schedule includes trips to Wyoming, Texas and Northern California Continue reading