Women’s basketball: Gonzaga defeats UCLA, 89-75, in NCAA tournament

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UCLA fought to the finish.

But forward Kayla Standish scored 30 points and guard Courtney Vandersloot finished with 29 points and 17 assists as 11th-seeded Gonzaga defeated third-seeded UCLA, 89-75, on Monday night in the second round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs improved to 30-4 and will play the winner of Tuesday night’s game between Xavier and Louisville in the third round of the Spokane Regional, which continues next weekend.

UCLA finished 28-5 after suffering a second-round loss in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year.

Standish, who scored 30 points in the Bulldogs’ first-round victory over Iowa, made 11 of 14 shots and helped Gonzaga overcome a 38-35 halftime deficit with 18 points in the second half.

Vandersloot became the first player in NCAA history to score more than 2,000 points and hand out 1,000 assists. The senior entered the game needing 10 points to reach the milestone. She scored 21 of her points in the second half.

Darxia Morris scored 20 points and Jasmine Dixon had 18 for the Bruins.

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--Gary Klein, reporting from Spokane, Wash.