SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga freshman Allie Turner scored 18 points in her college debut, hitting five 3-pointers, grabbing six rebounds and having six assists in the Bulldogs’ 82-69 win over the Montana Grizzlies in the season-opener for both teams before 4,952 at the McCarthey Athletic Center on Tuesday.
Fifth-year forward Yvonne Ejim recorded her 26th career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for Gonzaga, which has won 37 straight games at home, the second-longest streak in the nation.
Avery Waddington, a freshman from Lake City High, had a team-high 13 points for Montana in her college debut. Waddington also had five rebounds and three steals in 20:51. Tyler McCliment-Call, who played her freshman and sophomore seasons at Post Falls High, had two points and an assist for Montana.
In the first half, Gonzaga had a lead as large as 25 and went on a 10-0 run to take a 49-30 lead going into halftime. Three Zags scored in double figures including Ines Bettencourt with 10, Ejim with 12 and McKynnlie Dalan with 11.
The Zags shot 62.5% from the floor and held Montana to 50%. From beyond the arc, GU shot 60% and with five different Bulldogs making a three.
Gonzaga outrebounded the Griz 15-8 in the first half with Ejim grabbing a team-high five.
In the second half, Gonzaga maintained its lead the entire way with Turner scoring a team-high 12 points in the final 20 minutes.
Along with Turner and Ejim, Inês Bettencourt (16 points), Maud Huijbens (14 points), and McKynnlie Dalan (12) scored in double figures.
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