Zag women back in Top 25, Bowen named Player of the Week

A week after dropping out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Gonzaga University women’s basketball team returned to the poll at No. 25. The Bulldogs received 75 votes. Also announced on Monday, senior forward Kelly Bowen was named West Coast Conference Player of the Week for the first time in her career at Gonzaga. More below.

Gonzaga clinched at least a share of its eighth-straight West Coast Conference regular-season title after beating Santa Clara and Pepperdine last week. The Zags (24-4, 13-2 WCC) can win the WCC title outright Saturday with a victory over BYU. BYU is also receiving votes in the poll, earning 15 this week.

Bowen had an impressive week for the Bulldogs, averaging 14.0 points and 12.5 rebounds in their two wins.

The Victoria, Australia native began the week scoring a career-high 19 points in Gonzaga's 87-55 win over Santa Clara, and also added nine rebounds and had one assist and one steal.

She followed that performance with a career-high 16 rebounds – also a GU single-game high this season – in the Zags' 66-40 win over Pepperdine. Bowen also added nine points, seven of which came in Gonzaga’s crucial 22-0 run in the second half that turned a 34-34 ballgame into a blown open 56-34 lead.

Bowen is the third player from Gonzaga this season to earn the weekly honor. She is preceeded by redshirt sophomore Haiden Palmer (Dec. 19) and senior Katelan Redmon (Jan. 23).