Preview: Pacific Tigers at No. -- Gonzaga Bulldogs

SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — The Gonzaga Bulldogs look to continue their push atop the West Coast Conference when they host the struggling Pacific Tigers in a women’s basketball matchup Saturday at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gonzaga (16-7 overall) enters the contest having won five of its last six games, including a hard-fought 81-75 road victory at Washington State last Saturday. The Bulldogs’ balanced attack was on display as Paige Lofing scored 17 points and Taylor Smith added 10 points and three assists off the bench.

Smith, a key reserve, has provided consistent energy for the Bulldogs. Over her last six games, she is averaging 7.8 points and 2.3 assists in just over 20 minutes per contest.

Pacific (8-13) seeks to halt a three-game skid, most recently an 87-66 loss at Loyola Marymount on Jan. 29. The Tigers have found wins scarce in conference play, but are led by the dynamic play of guard Daria Nestorov.

Nestorov is coming off a near triple-double in that loss, finishing with 14 points and nine assists in 35 minutes. She has been a bright spot, averaging 9.0 points and 6.0 assists per game over her last five outings. Support came from Sophia Mindermann (17 points) and Sydney Ward (14 points) in the last game, but Pacific will need a collective defensive effort to challenge Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs have dominated at home this season, boasting a formidable offense that averages over 78 points per game at McCarthey Athletic Center. Their defense has also been stifling, holding opponents to an average of 57.2 points on their home floor.

This game marks the first of a regular-season series between the teams, who will meet again in Stockton, California, on Feb. 21.

Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. For Pacific, the challenge is to contain Gonzaga’s depth and offensive firepower. For the Bulldogs, the task is to avoid a letdown against a conference opponent they are expected to handle at home.

Following this game, Gonzaga hits the road for contests at San Diego and Loyola Marymount. Pacific continues its road trip at Saint Mary’s on Feb. 12.