Gonzaga celebrates a victory over BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Jill Townsend scored on an 15-foot fadeaway jumper as time expired and No. 18 Gonzaga rallied past second-seeded BYU 43-42 on Tuesday in the West Coast Conference championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Kaylynne Truong inbounded the ball with 0.6 seconds to play, finding Townsend on the left side of the lane. Townsend, one of three starters who did not start because of illness, came off a Jenn Wirth screen and just got the shot off over 6-foot-7 Sara Hamson as time expired.
It was the only points of the game for Townsend, who started on the bench with leading 3-pointer shooter Cierra Walker, and third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder LeeAnne Wirth because of gastroenteritis.
Freshman Yvonne Ejim, playing a season-high 21 minutes, led the Bulldogs (23-3) with 13 points, nine in the fourth quarter, and nine rebounds - both season highs. She forced a tie-up with a friendly possession arrow on an offensive rebound when Kayleigh Truong missed a layup with two seconds left.
The Bulldogs shot a season-low 28.6% (16 of 56) in their lowest scoring game. Their previous low came in a 61-56 loss at BYU.
Shaylee Gonzales scored 13 points and Paisley Harding had 12 for the Cougars (18-5), who are very much a bubble team. Lauren Gustin had eight points with 13 rebounds.
BYU led 22-13 at the half when Gonzales hit a 3 in the closing seconds. Gonzaga went 9:02 without scoring and missed 17 shots in going 12:39 between baskets.
The Bulldogs were 5 of 29 from the field (17.2%) and had 12 turnovers in the opening half. Jenn Wirth, who shared the WCC player of the year with Gonzales, was 1-of-9 shooting and Melody Kempton, the sixth player of the year, moved into the starting lineup and had six turnovers.
The teams played even in the third quarter, with BYU's lead getting up to 13, but Ejim scored the first six points of the fourth.
Gonzaga has won five-straight regular season titles but last won the tournament in 2018. BYU, in its sixth title game appearance since joining the league in 2011, beat the Zags 82-68 in 2019 but is now 3-3 in finals. It is Gonzaga's ninth tourney title.
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Gonzaga coach Lisa Fortier cuts the net down after the team's win over BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
Gonzaga celebrates a victory over BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
Gonzaga guard Jill Townsend lies on the court in front of teammates after Gonzaga defeated BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
Gonzaga guard Kayleigh Truong (11) shoots against BYU guard Shaylee Gonzales during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the WCC women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
BYU guard Paisley Johnson Harding (13) looks to pass against Gonzaga during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the WCC women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
BYU coach Jeff Judkins looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga in the WCC women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
Members of Gonzaga kneel during the national anthem before their game against BYU in an NCAA college basketball game in the WCC women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
Gonzaga guard Jill Townsend (32) shoots the winning basket in the team's NCAA college basketball game against BYU for the West Coast Conference women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
Gonzaga guard Jill Townsend, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning basket against BYU in an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press
Gonzaga guard Jill Townsend (32) defends against BYU guard Shaylee Gonzales during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the West Coast Conference women's tournament championship Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Associated Press