SAN FRANCISCO – For the second time this week, the San Francisco women's basketball team was knocking on the door of victory in the closing minutes of the game. And again the result was the same Saturday afternoon – a five point loss – as the San Diego Toreros held on to nab the 74-69 victory at War Memorial Gym.

The Dons dropped a contest decided by five points or less for the fifth time in the conference slate, and the team now stands at 13-9 overall, and 4-7 in West Coast Conference play. Meanwhile, San Diego improves to 17-4 (8-3 WCC).

USF finished with four double-digit scorers in the contest, paced by 15 points, including a 3-of-3 effort from long range, by junior Zhane Dikes. Michaela Rakova compiled 12 points and six rebounds, while Aundrea Gordon and Anna Seilund also topped the 10-point scoring mark. Seilund, a freshman from Copenhagen, Denmark, also added a game-high six assists in the contest.  Four of her six assists came in the first half of action as she found the open three-point shooter.

As a team, the Dons went 10-for-21 or 47.6 percent from distance, a new team season high in 3-pointers. Dikes, Seilund, Gordon and Taylor Proctor all finished with at least two 3-pointers in the game. Seven of USF's makes from beyond the arc came in the first half of action, and the Dons led by as many as 12 in the period. USF found themselves up 26-14 with 8:12 to play in the first half after Gordon's three capped a 12-2 run. However, the Toreros would whittle the advantage to just three at the midpoint break, as the Dons led 36-33.

Taj Winston opened the second half with the steal and the driving layup, which was followed by more points in the paint, this time from senior Paige Spietz. That same seven point lead for the home squad persisted after Rakova posted up for back-to-back baskets to set the score at 53-46 with 13:40 to play.

Unfortunately for the Dons, the offense stalled for the next eight minutes of game action. During that span, USF missed each of its nine attempts from the field while the Toreros capitalized with an 18-3 scoring spurt to take the lead from the Dons.

Winston's layup on the inbounds play with 5:59 on the clock halted the drought, but by then San Diego had built a six point lead. With the Dons trailing by five with 2:33 remaining, USF's defense forced Katherine Hamilton into the travel, and Seilund made the Toreros pay. On the next possession, Seilund drained the long-range shot to pare the San Diego lead down to two.
Proctor's 3-pointer with 36.0 seconds to play made it a one-point game, but the Toreros converted on consecutive trips to the line to escape with the 74-69 victory.

San Diego was led in victory by Malina Hood's 19 points, despite a 1-for-10 effort from 3-point range. Sophia Ederaine picked up a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double and the nation's third-rated shot blocker finished with six on the day.

The Dons now travel to the Pacific Northwest for a pair of games. First, USF takes on Portland on Thursday seeking a season sweep of the Pilots. Tip-off from the Chiles Center is slated for 7 p.m.