NORTHWEST NOTES: Oct. 14, 2021

| October 14, 2021 1:10 AM

Former Post Falls standout

Kempton tabbed All-West Coast Conference

The Gonzaga women's basketball team was selected to finish second in the West Coast Conference in preseason polls. Senior Melody Kempton was also named to the Preseason All-WCC Team as the poll and preseason all-conference team were announced Wednesday afternoon by the West Coast Conference.

This is Kempton's first preseason nod at Gonzaga as she is the reigning WCC Sixth Woman of the Year. Last season, she saw action in 25 games with one start and ranked sixth on the team in scoring at 6.6 points per contest and fourth in rebounding with 3.6. She also led the Zags in field goal percentage at 60.7 and reached double figures six times on the season with a season-high 13 points against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 20. In that same game, she hauled in a season-high eight boards. Overall, she added 18 assists, 10 steals and five blocks on the season.

Along with being named the WCC Sixth Woman of the Year, Kempton was also given All-WCC Honorable Mention recognition last season.

The Zags, which have won 16 of the last 17 regular-season WCC titles, received two first-place votes for 72 points. The poll is voted on by the league's 10 head coaches, and coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team. BYU received eight first-place votes and was selected to finish first with 80 points, while San Diego was voted to finish third with 66 points.

Gonzaga has amassed a conference record of 242-31 (.886) during the last 16 seasons, which includes 16 West Coast Conference regular-season titles and eight WCC Tournament championships.

Fans will have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the 2021-22 squad on Saturday at the Numerica Fan Fest at 4 p.m. in McCarthey Athletic Center. Admission is free and tickets are not required.