Gonzaga women remain atop WCC after 66-56 road win at San Diego Thursday night

Gonzaga protects conference lead in final Southern California swing

Gonzaga’s women’s basketball team stayed in first place in the West Coast Conference standings with a 66-56 road victory over San Diego on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at Jenny Craig Pavilion. The Bulldogs improved to 19-7 overall and 11-2 in WCC play, extending a five-game winning streak and setting up a pivotal matchup to close the trip through Southern California.

Gonzaga led throughout but had to navigate extended stretches of uneven execution before creating late separation. The Bulldogs’ edge on the glass and a fourth-quarter defensive adjustment were central in preserving the win as San Diego narrowed the gap in the final two minutes.

Whittaker leads with double-double as Gonzaga counters turnover trouble

Freshman forward Lauren Whittaker posted her 14th double-double of the season, finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Zeryhia Aokuso added 12 points, the only other Gonzaga player in double figures.

Gonzaga committed 20 turnovers, including a first half marked by multiple illegal-screen calls that contributed to early stoppages and disrupted rhythm. Even with those mistakes, the Bulldogs converted San Diego turnovers into points and leaned on rebounding to steady possessions as the game tightened.

• Gonzaga record after the win: 19-7 overall, 11-2 WCC
• San Diego record after the loss: 9-18 overall, 3-11 WCC
• Whittaker: 19 points, 12 rebounds
• Aokuso: 12 points

San Diego’s Ray sparks comeback bid before late clampdown

San Diego sophomore guard Kylie Ray carried the Toreros’ offense for most of the night, scoring 25 points and producing a 12-point third quarter that kept the game within reach. Gonzaga, which had held a cushion for three quarters, altered its defensive approach in the fourth and limited Ray to zero points in the final period.

San Diego briefly brought the margin under 10 late, closing to 62-54 with 1:17 remaining. Gonzaga then secured the outcome at the free-throw line, with Allie Turner and Ines Bettencourt converting key attempts in the final 1:06.

With the result, Gonzaga extended its long-running series dominance over San Diego, recording a 20th consecutive win in the matchup.

What’s next in the WCC race

The victory kept Gonzaga in front in a closely contested WCC race and moved the team to the final game of its Southern California road swing. Gonzaga’s next conference game is at Loyola Marymount on Saturday, Feb. 14, a matchup with direct implications near the top of the standings.

For San Diego, the loss underscored the challenges of staying competitive against the league’s top teams despite efficient scoring from its lead guard and a late push that brought the Toreros back into contention.