WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT: Standish stands out in championship

LAS VEGAS – Heather Bowman took home All-West Coast Conference Tournament Team honors for the fourth straight year, and Vivian Frieson joined her. Head Coach Kelly Graves said that along with Tiffanie Shives they're part of a trio of seniors who are the best leaders he's ever coached.

Bowman, who is the all-time Gonzaga and WCC leading scorer, and Frieson have played their last games in the West Coast Conference, after helping Gonzaga to the first undefeated regular season and tournament in conference history, with an average margin of victory of more than 30.

And despite losing his first and second low-post scorers, and his first and second rebounders, Graves isn't too worried about his post play next year. And he has as simple answer as to why not:

Kayla Standish.

"She's just so athletic. She's a phenomenal athlete, and she can jump and she can run the floor," Graves said.

The 6-2 sophomore from Ellensberg, Wash., scored six points and grabbed 11 rebounds on Sunday, and followed that performance with the team's only double-double of the tournament with 10 points, 14 rebounds, two blocks and two steals against Pepperdine in the championship game. And she came off the bench for just 16 minutes in each game.

"She played 32 minutes in this tournament and had [24] rebounds, that's pretty good production," Graves said. "Imagine when she's playing 30 minutes a game next year. That's going to be impressive."

Graves touted Standish as "all of the physical tools to be one of the greatest players I've had the privilege of coaching and to have ever played at Gonzaga," which is no small praise coming from the coach of the all-time leading scorer for both the school and conference, and of junior guard Courtney Vandersloot, who, at 15 points and 9.5 assists per game, many consider to be one of the best point guards in the country and a potential All-American candidate.

Still, Standish was a top recruit after leading Ellensburg High School to the Washington State tournament four times and earning All-Central Washington Athletic Conference and all-state four times as well. Standish also excelled as a track athlete, never finishing below the top four at in both the 100-meter high hurdles and the triple jump.

"With her skill set, she can play any of four positions on the court," Graves said. "She is our best shot blocker, has great shooting range and in time could be our best rebounder and defensive stopper."