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Dons Host Santa Clara in Saturday Rivalry Game

Dons Host Santa Clara in Saturday Rivalry Game
USF's longest rival, the Dons earned their first-ever program win against Santa Clara more than 37 years ago.
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Complete game notes (PDF)

USF (9-15, 4-9 WCC) vs. Santa Clara (7-17, 3-10 WCC)
Saturday | Feb. 15 | 2 p.m. | War Memorial Gym
Game 25
Audio/video/live stats: usfdons.com/LIVE | Tickets | RSVP on Facebook
*post-game player autograph session

Tale of the Tape

USF

68.9
.400
38.6
10.3
6.7
2.8
vs.

Points/Game
Field Goal Pct.
Rebounds/Game
Assists/Game
Steals/Game
Blocks/Game
Santa Clara

65.9
.410
38.3
13.9
6.4
2.7

Just the Facts, Ma'am

The University of San Francisco women's basketball team seeks a season split with Bay Area rival Santa Clara to close a three-game homestand. Last week, USF split with San Diego and BYU, picking up a victory against the Toreros.

What 2 Watch 4

The Dons head into Saturday's contest with four players producing at least 10 points per game. Taylor Proctor's 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game paces the Dons with Zhané Dikes (12.3 ppg), Taj Winston (10.5 ppg, 1.7 spg)  and Rachel Howard (10.0 ppg) adding to the USF offense. In the second half of the WCC slate, the Dons are 2-2 facing opponents on the back half of the two-game season series.

Know the Foe - Santa Clara

The Broncos are led by Nici Gilday's 15.2 points per game, good for ninth in the WCC. Her .871 percent free throw shooting is second in the league and helps the Broncos to the second-best team percentage from the line.

Jo Paine adds 1.5 points and a .380 3-point percentage to stand as Santa Clara's only double-digit offensive performer.

BYU Remix

Career-highs by Paige Spietz and Aundrea Gordon couldn't help USF get over the second-half hump as the Dons fell to the Cougars 73-66. Spietz went for her first career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Gordon picked up 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting to lead USF.

On the Horizon

Next week USF hits the road for its last two games away from the Hilltop, facing Saint Mary's in Moraga Thursday at 6 p.m.

Get Connected


Fans can keep up on the latest in USF Athletics in a variety of ways.
Follow USF Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ DonsAthletics
Follow USF women's basketball on Facebook at www.facebook.com/San FranciscoWBB and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/USFBasketball
Check out video of the Dons in action at www.youtube.com/usfdonsathletics
USF & Santa Clara - The Series

Santa Clara leads the all-time series 48-35
USF's record vs. the Broncos • At home: 20-18 • Away: 14-27 • Neutral: 1-3
Last win in series: Feb. 20, 2010 - 58-52 at USF
Current streak: The Dons have lost last eight vs. the Broncos, including an 82-71 defeat in the last meeting between the two that kicked off WCC play.
Historical: USF's first win in program history came against Santa Clara. The Dons beat the Broncos 32-14 in 1976-77, sparking a 10-game winning streak against Santa Clara.

Dons & Broncos - Take Two

In the first meeting between USF and Santa Clara, USF jumped out to a 42-35 halftime lead and extended the advantage to 12 minutes into the second. But the Broncos used two extended runs to get the lead and keep it, going on to win 81-72.

The Broncos were paced by 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting by Ruta Zuraskyte. USF's leading  scorer was Taj Winston, who finished with 14 points for the Dons.

Dishing and Swishing

Line it Up
USF has employed six different starting lineups on the season:

Dikes, Howard, Proctor, Spietz, Winston 4-7
Dikes, Howard, Price, Spietz, Winston 2-2
Gordon, Katuna, Price, Williams, Winston 1-0
Dikes, Gordon, Howard, Proctor, Spietz 0-2
Gordon, Howard, Proctor, Spietz, Stark 0-2
*Dikes, Hardick, Proctor, Spietz, Winston  2-2*
*indicates most recent starting five

Second Time is Sweeter
The Dons have a 2-1 record in the second half of the WCC slate, knocking off Portland on the road and then taking care of San Diego at War Memorial Gym. In the victory over the Toreros, the Dons posted their first home halftime lead of the season. The last time USF led at the break was in a win at Pepperdine Jan. 4.

Down 20? No Problem!
USF came back from a 22-2 start at Portland to earn the win on a last-second basket and free throw from Taylor Proctor. The Dons were down 13 at halftime and nabbed their first lead of the game with 7:18 to play. USF has now posted five come-from-behind wins overcoming deficits of at least 10 points.

On the Air

Listen to longtime voice of the Dons and commentator for the 2013-14 TheW.tv slate, George Devine behind the mic all season long. Devine is in his 18th season as the play-by-play voice of USF women's basketball.

Hear the call and follow along with live stats and video for all home contests at War Memorial Gym, in partnership with Stretch Internet. Catch the action for both home and away games at usfdons.com/LIVE.

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