DELAND, Fla. — The San Francisco women's basketball team's defense and the offense worked like magic Wednesday on the first day of the Hatter Classic at Stetson University, as the Dons held North Dakota State to just 42 points while shooting 56.9 percent themselves with four players scoring in double figures, beating the Bison, 75-42, at the Edmunds Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game swung entirely to the Dons (4-6) midway through the second quarter. North Dakota State (3-8) pulled to within striking distance with back-to-back buckets that made it 23-20. But USF ran right back out ahead with an 11-0 run that lasted the rest of the first half. It held NDSU scoreless for the final 5:50 of the second quarter, and although they, too, went scoreless for the last three minutes, five forced turnovers helped the Dons keep the Bison off the board.
   
• San Francisco continued to post runs in the second half to pull away from the Bison. A 10-5 spot to end the third quarter put the Dons up by 20 at 51-31, and a 13-0 stretch in the latter parts of the fourth put them up by 35. USF held North Dakota State to 36.4 percent shooting in the game, including just 13.3 percent (2 for 15) from 3-point range. The Bison made their second 3-pointer with one minute left in the first period and would not make another, going 0 for 9 the rest of the way.
   
• San Francisco dominated on the boards and in forcing turnovers on the floor. The Dons outrebounded the Bison by 20, 38-18, and forced 21 turnovers. USF scored 23 points off of 21 NDSU turnovers and secured 11 second-chance points off of 12 offensive boards. USF had eight steals for the fourth straight game, with Shannon Powell grabbing four.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 22: Powell logged her second 20-point game in the last three with 22 points Wednesday. She went 9 for 14 from the floor (64.3 percent) and a perfect 4 for 4 from the free-throw line. She also had five rebounds, four assists and four steals.
• 42: 42 points by North Dakota State was the lowest point total for a USF opponent since North Texas also scored 42 on Dec. 17, 2014 – nearly four years to the day.
• 56.9: The Dons shot 56.9 percent against NDSU. It marked the third time this season they have shot at least 50 percent in a game (3-0 in those games).

COMING UP

• The Dons wrap up play at the 31st Hatter Classic at Stetson University on Friday against the University of North Dakota. The game is set for an approximate tip-off time of 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST. Fans can find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.