SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle that saw both teams shoot under 33% from the field, the Gonzaga Bulldogs found a way to survive on the road, outlasting the San Francisco Dons 74-66 in overtime in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at War Memorial Gymnasium.

The victory, Gonzaga’s second over San Francisco in two weeks, improved the Bulldogs to 15-7 overall. The Dons fell to 13-8.

The game’s defining sequence came not in the extra period, but in the final frantic seconds of regulation. Trailing 62-60 with under 20 seconds to play, Gonzaga’s Lauren Whittaker, who led all scorers with 17 points, drove and finished a layup off an assist from Zeryhia Aokuso to tie the game with four seconds remaining. San Francisco’s ensuing chance to win it in regulation was thwarted when Gonzaga’s Ines Bettencourt blocked a Meghan McIntyre floater at the buzzer, sending the game to an extra five minutes tied at 62.

Gonzaga seized control immediately in overtime, scoring the first eight points. Sierra Lichtie sank two free throws, Whittaker converted two more after a steal, and then Whittaker scored again inside to make it 70-62. The Bulldogs’ defense held San Francisco without a field goal for the first four and a half minutes of the overtime period, allowing only four free throws as the Dons finished overtime 1-for-9 from the field with four turnovers.

The game was a stark contrast of halves and a testament to Gonzaga’s resilience. The Bulldogs raced to a 20-13 lead after the first quarter, but their offense went frigid in the second, managing only six points. San Francisco capitalized, closing the half on a 7-0 run, capped by two Michelle Ugwah free throws with a second left, to take a 24-26 lead into halftime.

Gonzaga regained its footing after the break, using a 10-0 run midway through the third quarter to rebuild a lead. The Bulldogs entered the fourth quarter ahead 45-40, but San Francisco mounted a fierce comeback. The Dons, led by the playmaking of Aina Cargol who finished with 11 points and five assists, and the inside presence of Ugwah with 11 points, chipped away. A Mara Neira three-pointer with 3:49 left in regulation gave San Francisco a 55-52 advantage, its first lead since the second quarter.

The teams traded blows down the stretch. McIntyre, who had 10 points and four assists for the Dons, scored on a driving layup to put San Francisco up 59-57 with two minutes left. After an Allie Turner free throw for Gonzaga, Ugwah hit one of two at the line to make it 60-58. Turner then tied the game with two free throws of her own with 1:45 remaining. McIntyre answered again with a tough layup to put San Francisco back up 62-60, setting the stage for Whittaker’s game-tying heroics and Bettencourt’s critical block.

Statistically, the game was defined by poor shooting and physical defense. Gonzaga shot 23 of 71 from the field, a 32.4% clip, while San Francisco was marginally worse at 23 of 69 for 33.3%. Both teams struggled from deep, with Gonzaga hitting 7 of 26 and San Francisco 6 of 27. The difference came at the free-throw line, where Gonzaga was 21 of 26 compared to San Francisco’s 14 of 17, and in second-chance opportunities, where Gonzaga’s 18 offensive rebounds led to 18 more field goal attempts.

Beyond Whittaker, Gonzaga had a balanced scoring effort. Aokuso had 11 points, Turner finished with 13, and Teryn Gardner added 10. Bettencourt contributed seven points, three assists and two blocks, including the pivotal one at the end of regulation.

For San Francisco, Cargol and Ugwah were joined in double figures by McIntyre. The Dons won the turnover battle, forcing 18 while committing 15, and had eight steals to Gonzaga’s four, but could not overcome their offensive drought when it mattered most in overtime.

The game drew an attendance of 463. Gonzaga will travel to face Washington State on Saturday, while San Francisco heads to Oregon State.