SPOKANE — Jill Barta scored 19 points, but Gonzaga couldn’t overcome a poor second quarter on its way to its first West Coast Conference loss of the season, a 72-56 setback against Saint Mary’s on Saturday.
The Gaels outscored the Bulldogs 26-9 in the second period, building a 24-point advantage that would prove insurmountable. Gonzaga made just six of 30 first-half field goal attempts and 18 of 61 for the game. Barta, the former Fairfield High School standout, finished with a a 5-of-13 mark from the floor, making three of six 3-point attempts. Barta added four rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Sydney Raggion (17 points), Megan McKay (14) and Stella Beck (13) scored in double figures for Saint Mary’s, which improved to 16-9 overall and 9-5 in the West Coast Conference.
The loss snapped Gonzaga’s 15-game winning streak and postponed its regular-season conference championship. The Zags would have clinched the WCC regular-season title with a win on Saturday. Gonzaga (20-5 overall, 13-1 conference) will try again for the championship on Thursday when it travels to Loyola Marymount. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. (MT).
