No. 18 Gonzaga sinks Saint Mary's to reach WCC title game

Mar 10, 2014, 07:53 pm

LAS VEGAS -- Haiden Palmer scored 16 points as No. 18 Gonzaga beat Saint Mary's 68-60 Monday to advance to the championship game of the West Coast Conference tournament.

Gonzaga will look to win its fifth WCC tournament championship in six years when it faces No. 2 seed BYU on Tuesday.

Shelby Cheslek had 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for Gonzaga (28-4). Lindsay Sherbert came off the bench and scored 14 points in the first half. The Bulldogs forced 12 first-half turnovers and led 37-26.

Senior Jackie Nared had 29 points and 11 rebounds for Saint Mary's (22-9). The Gaels overcame a 17-point deficit against San Diego on Friday and trailed by as many as 13 against the Bulldogs.

Saint Mary's went on a 9-0 run early in the second half to pull within 39-35, but the Gaels would get no closer. Down the stretch, Gonzaga held Saint Mary's to only one field goal in a 9-minute span.