SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga backed up its new No. 1 ranking in the latest ESPNW Mid-Major Poll with a 72-42 win over Colgate here Thursday.
 
The Bulldogs were particularly sharp in the first quarter when they made 6-of-7 from 3-point range and raced to a 24-7 lead. Colgate, on the other hand, suffered its worst-shooting game of the season and finished at just 27.1 percent.
 
Katie Curtis led all scorers with 13 points, seven of which came in the second quarter. The senior guard added nine rebounds and three steals. Rachel Thompson tossed in seven points and both Kateri Stone and Summer King added six.
 
Jill Barta led Gonzaga with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Elle Tinkle posted 10 points and 11 boards.
 
Bottom Line
• Gonzaga 72, Colgate 42
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate ended the pre-conference season 3-8.
• Gonzaga improved to 9-2.
 
Quick Recap
• Gonzaga came out smoking from downtown. The Bulldogs swished 6-of-7 from 3-point distance in the opening quarter to lead 24-7.
• The Zags added four more threes in the second quarter. They were 9-of-12 at one point before finishing 10-of-16 from long range for the half.
• Curtis scored seven in a row for Colgate to help spark a late 9-3 mini-run that pulled Colgate within 45-20 at intermission.
• Colgate's defense limited Gonzaga to 13 points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth. It was 58-31 at the end of three quarters.
• Rachel Thompson scored five of her seven points in the fourth quarter for Colgate as Gonzaga closed out the 72-42 result.
 
Facts & Figures
• The Raiders were limited to just nine players in uniform. Tegan Graham, Haley Greer, Steph Poland and Julia Barcello all were sidelined by injuries.
• Colgate shot a season-low 27.1 percent from the field, including 3-of-15 from 3-point distance.
• But Colgate's 16 turnovers were their fewest since Nov. 20 at Brown, and the third-fewest this season.
• Mylah Chandler found her way to six rebounds against the must-taller Bulldogs.
• Colgate's bench was outscored for just the second time this season, 30-15.
• The Raiders were 7-of-8 at the line and enter Patriot League play at 74.8 percent.
• Mackenzie Carroll made her first collegiate start and Stone made her second of the year.
• Thursday's contest wrapped a three-game set with Gonzaga that featured two meetings in Spokane and one in Hamilton.
 
From the Source
• Colgate head coach Bill Cleary: (On Gonzaga being Colgate's best opponent to date) "By far. That's a great team and they can beat you in so many ways – inside and outside. They're very well coaches and an absolute great team."
 
(On the nonconference season) "The main thing we told our players today was they had to keep their heads held high. We've had a very difficult nonconference schedule. One of the things we did a great job of, particularly learning a whole new system offensively and defensively, is we were competitive in 10 of our 11 games.
 
"It's a process and we've talked to our players about that process. One of the things I was proud of today is they continued to fight. We got down early but it didn't get too out of hand. (The second half) was much better than the first.
 
"We told the players to keep their heads high, a lot of positives we can take, and the schedule definitely has gotten us prepared for Patriot League play."
 
Listen to the rest of Coach Cleary's comments HERE.
 
Gate Grab Bag
• There was an excellent crown on hand for the Thursday afternoon affair. Attendance at McCarthey Athletic Center was 5,719.
 
Up Next
• Colgate opens Patriot League play at home Dec. 30 against Lafayette.
• The Raiders are riding a four-game winning streak in the series after sweeping all three games last season.
• The Leopards enter at 1-11 after dropping an 81-39 home decision to Drexel.
• Tipoff from Cotterell Court is 7 p.m.