Northwest Notes Sept. 27, 2023

Time set for Zags-USC basketball game in Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Gonzaga, ranked seventh in a preseason poll, and No. 21 USC will tip off at 7 p.m. PST on ESPN on Dec. 2 as the nightcap of a doubleheader called the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational, set for the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Washington and Colorado State will open the doubleheader at 4 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network.

This will be the fourth all-time meeting between USC and Gonzaga with the Trojans owning a 2-1 mark in the series. The Bulldogs won the most recent meeting, an Elite Eight showdown in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Washington and Colorado State have also played three times previously with the Rams having won twice, including the most recent meeting between the programs in 2012.

For Gonzaga, three impact transfers – Ryan Nembhard (Creighton), Steele Venters (Eastern Washington) and Graham Ike (Wyoming) — step in the fill the void left by departing starters Drew Timme, Julian Strawther and Rasir Bolton. Anton Watson and Nolan Hickman return as likely starters for head coach Mark Few.

USC may boast the most dynamic backcourt in the country next season as the Trojans return all-conference guard Boogie Ellis and welcome the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023, Isaiah Collier. Returning starters Kobe Johnson and Joshua Morgan, along with graduate transfer DJ Rodman (formerly of Washington State), will give the Trojans a deep, experienced core. Andy Enfield is entering his 11th season with USC.

Tickets for the event will go on sale on October 13 at www.axs.com, but fans interested in attending the doubleheader can register to receive event information and gain access to early tickets through a one-day presale on Oct. 12 by signing up at www.legendsofbasketball.com/vegas. Through the link, fans can also purchase VIP hospitality tickets to pregame and postgame events through the NBRPA for the opportunity to meet former NBA and WNBA stars.

Gonzaga's Lee wins college women's golf tournament at Coeur d'Alene Resort Course

COEUR d'ALENE — Gonzaga sophomore Grace Lee took medalist honors at the 2023 Coeur d’Alene Resort Collegiate Invitational on Tuesday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.

Lee totaled a 13-under-par 200, setting a tournament 54-hole record in the sixth annual event hosted by Gonzaga.

Lee opened the event with an 18-hole record round of 9-under 62 on Sunday, before back-to-back rounds of 69 (-2) Monday and Tuesday. She finished with 18 birdies over the three rounds, the most in the 73-golfer field.

The previous individual record was set in the inaugural event by Colorado’s Kirsty Hodgkins at 203 (-10). Hodgkins and her teammate Robyn Choi set the 18-hole record also in 2017 at 65 (-6). Lee’s first-round 62 featured 11 birdies and five pars.

Gonzaga tied for third as a team at 13-over (865). The Bulldogs led the event after a first-round 284 (E) Sunday.

San Francisco’s Eva Pett was second in the tournament at 7-under (206). Abigail Leighton of UC Davis was third at 3-under (210).

UC Davis took the team title with the third-lowest 54-hole total in tournament history. The Aggies were the only team under-par at 6-under (845). San Francisco placed second with an 860 (+8) team total.