SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — Gonzaga built a commanding early lead and withstood a fierce second-half rally to defeat UC Davis 83-72 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at McCarthey Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs raced ahead 28-9 after the first quarter behind a strong start from Lauren Whittaker, who finished with 19 points. The Aggies, led by Avery Sussex’s 23 points and Nya Epps’ 23, stormed back with a 30-point third quarter to close within single digits. Gonzaga’s offense, which shot 54.2% from the field, stabilized in the final period to secure the win. Ines Bettencourt added 16 points for the Bulldogs. Gonzaga improved to 6-4, while UC Davis fell to 7-3.