Gonzaga Women Hold Off North Dakota State
Lauren Whittaker posted a double-double as Gonzaga defeated North Dakota State 62-56 at home on Monday.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Gonzaga women's basketball defeated North Dakota State 62-56 on Monday at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane. The Bulldogs forced most of the Bison's 17 turnovers and rallied from an 11-point first-half deficit.
Why it matters
The win gives Gonzaga a strong start to its home stretch, with the team hosting Idaho on Friday as part of three straight games at McCarthey. Forcing turnovers and contesting shots carried the Bulldogs until their offense found its rhythm.
Lauren Whittaker finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Teryn Gardner made 3 of 8 three-pointers for nine points and four assists. Gonzaga shot 25 of 61 from the field (41%) and 5 of 18 from three (27.8%) in the win.
The players
Lauren Whittaker
Gonzaga guard who posted 22 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two assists in the win.
Teryn Gardner
Gonzaga guard who made 3 of 8 three-point attempts and finished with nine points and four assists.
The details
Teryn Gardner hit back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game at 45-all and give Gonzaga its first lead, and Allie Turner later made a pass-assisted three that pushed the Bulldogs ahead 57-51. Gonzaga led North Dakota State for the first time midway through the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half.
Timeline
Monday: Gonzaga defeated North Dakota State 62-56 at McCarthey Athletic Center.
Friday: Gonzaga hosts Idaho in the second of three straight home games.
Season Trajectory
The stub does not provide Gonzaga's prior record or conference standing, so the broader season implications cannot be quantified here. Idaho's season-opening 71-47 win over NCAA Division II Saint Martin's is the only other comparison point the extraction supplies.
Fans planning to attend can watch the home stretch at McCarthey Athletic Center, where Gonzaga hosts Idaho on Friday. Attendance was 4,464 for the North Dakota State game.
The takeaway
Gonzaga's ability to force turnovers and recover from an 11-point first-half deficit showed the team can win even when its shooting is off. That defensive resilience is worth watching as the Bulldogs head into Friday's game against Idaho.
What happens next
Gonzaga hosts Idaho at McCarthey Athletic Center on Friday, the second of three straight home games.
Further reading
Explore more Spokane basketball coverage for context on the local college game.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Spokesman Review.
