SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team fell to Washington State University, 74-70, on Wednesday night at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.  
 
WSU got out to a quick start on a 5-0 run on the Dons. After a timeout around the eight-minute mark, USF started to settle in. With three minutes to go in the frame, USF found themselves within three. The Cougars managed to hold them into the second quarter, despite a buzzer-beater three-pointer from Shannon Powell to end the first.

Headed into the second, the visitors had a 19-15 edge. The Dons responding by opening the second period with a 9-2 run, including four points from Powell and a trey ball from Ninni Salmi. The streak gave USF their first lead in the game, 20-19.
 
The Dons and Cougars continued to trade buckets in a fast and furious contest. The two teams were gridlocked until two shots at the charity line put the visitors ahead, 36-35, into the half.  
 
USF came out from the locker room on a 8-0 tear, highlighted by Kayln Simon's back-to-back three-pointers to give the Dons a 43-36 advantage, their largest lead yet. The home team did not take their foot off the gas, stretching the gap to eight points with a minute to go in the third. 
 
Although momentum was in USF's favor, the Cougars outscored the Dons 14-7 to open the final period, obliterating USF's third quarter progress and taking a one point lead. The visitors edge grew to seven points, prompting head coach Molly Goodenbour to call for a timeout. Despite WSU shooting 55.0 percent from the field in the fourth, the Dons managed to come back within three, 65-68, at the 3:51 mark.
 
At the two-minute warning, WSU had a comfortable six-point cushion. Simon drilled a three-pointer, her third of the game, to bring the Dons to 69-71 with 57 seconds remaining. Powell was then sent to the line with 8.8 to go. She sunk the first, but missed the second, giving the visitors a chance to rebound. A foul sent WSU to the line, who also went 1-2 to keep the Dons in the game.
 
Veronica Preciado was fouled on a rebound attempt with 2.0 seconds to go, but could not seal the game with her two shots from the line. WSU rebounded and went to the line after being fouled, running away with the win. 
 
STATS OF THE GAME

• Shannon Powell lead the Dons, earning a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
• Powell also contributed three assists and a game-high three steals in her 31 minutes of action.
• Senior guard Kalyn Simon added 11 points, including three three pointers. 
• Anna Seilund added a game-high tying six assists. 
• Veronica Preciado registered five offensive and five defensive boards off the bench, to total a team-tying high of 10 boards. 
• Every Don that entered the contest scored four or more points. 
• The visitors outscored the Dons 26-16 in the fourth, shooting 55.0 percent from the field. 
• WSU's bench recorded 31 points to USF's bench's 24.  

WHAT'S NEXT
The Dons are set to hit the road, traveling to Colorado to match up with the University of Northern Colorado in a Sunday afternoon showdown. The Klawz are unbeaten in three contests. For more information on how to stream the game, visit our website.