Storm

Gonzaga is already gearing up for its back-to-back home games against Pac-10 opponents USC (Nov. 19) and Washington (Nov. 22), but first is an exhibition opener against Warner Pacific tonight.
Tip-off is 6 p.m. at McCarthey Athletic Center.
The Zags, which advanced to the second-round of the NCAA tournament last year, feature two players on the preseason Women’s Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year trophy watch-list. Senior F Heather Bowman and junior PG Courtney Vandersloot make Gonzaga one of just four schools with two preseason candidates. The others are Connecticut (junior F Maya Moore and senior C Tina Charles), Ohio State (junior C Jantel Lavender and sophomore G Samantha Prahalis) and Stanford (senior C Jayne Appel and junior G Jeanette Pohlen).
Vandersloot, who starred at Kentwood, was also named to the “Wade Watch” list for Wade Trophy Division I Player of the Year. She’s the first Bulldog to be named to that list.
Gonzaga is selected to win the West Coast Conference, again. The Zags won their fifth consecutive WCC regular-season title last year.