Albanez scores 20, No. 18 Gonzaga clamps down on BYU for 71-57 win in WCC title game

BYU's Jennifer Hamson, center, is double teamed by Gonzaga's Keani Albanez, left, and Kiara Kudron in the first half of an NCAA West Coast Conference women's tournament championship college basketball game, Tuesday, March 11, 2014, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) (The Associated Press)

Gonzaga's Sunny Greinacher (14) shoots against BYU's Jennifer Hamson, right, and Morgan Bailey in the first half of an NCAA West Coast Conference women's tournament championship college basketball game, Tuesday, March 11, 2014, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) (The Associated Press)

LAS VEGAS – Keani Albanez scored 20 points and No. 18 Gonzaga dominated BYU defensively to win the West Coast Conference tournament for the sixth time in seven years, beating the Cougars 71-57 on Tuesday.

After some early struggles against WCC player of the year Jennifer Hamson, Gonzaga (29-4) turned the title game into a rout, holding the Cougars (26-6) to 30 percent shooting while forcing 21 turnovers.

Hamson scored eight quick points, but the Bulldogs limited her chances during a key stretch to build a 16-point halftime lead. She finished with 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting.

Gonzaga also made life difficult for Lexi Eaton, BYU's second-leading scorer. She got 11 of her 15 points from the free-throw line after shooting 2 of 18.

Sunny Greinacher had 16 points and Lindsay Sherbert scored 15 for Gonzaga in its seventh straight WCC title-game appearance.