SAN DIEGO – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team led by as much as 11 midway through the first quarter.  However, turnovers and streaky shooting allowed the San Diego to erase the Dons lead as the Toreros went on to win 61-54 Wednesday afternoon at Jenny Craig Pavilion.
 
USF (4-4, 0-2 WCC) began the contest on fire, making four of their first six shots, including both 3-point field goal attempts.  That did not last long as the Dons shot 36.6 percent from the field going 15-for-41.  From 3-point range, USF was just 3-for-13 on the day, 1-for-11 after starting the game 2-for-2.
 
"We had trouble matching San Diego's physicality and pressure," said head coach Molly Goodenbour. "They forced too many turnovers and we settled for a lot of tough shots. We gave up too many offensive boards to them. They are a team who embraces their identity and plays with a great deal of intensity and toughness. We did not match those qualities today."
 
The Dons turned the ball over 24 times matching a season-high.  The Toreros were able to capitalize by scoring 22 points off those turnovers. On the glass, USD outrebounded the Dons 33-30, however it was USD's 16 offensive boards that made life difficult for USF.  The Toreros finished the day with 21 second chance points – 13 of them in late in the first half helping turn the momentum to USD's favor.
 
Ioanna Krimili led all scorers with 22 points.  She was 5-for-13 from the field and 2-for-6 from 3-point range but was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.  The Dons were terrific from the charity stripe all afternoon, going 21-for-25 as a team.  The 21 made free throws is second only to the 26 that the Dons made in their double-overtime win over Fresno State.
 
San Diego (4-3, 1-1 WCC) had three players in double figures. Leading USD was Sydney Hunter with 13, followed by Kendall Bird with 12, and Myah Pace with 10.  The Toreros had nine players in all score at least one bucket. For the day, they shot 44.1 percent from the field going 26-for-59.  From 3-point range they shot just 18.8 percent going 3-for-16.   
 
USF jumped to an early advantage in the first quarter thanks to tremendous shooting from the free throw line.  The Dons went 12-for-13 from the charity stripe in the first quarter and led by as much as 11.  A late run by the Toreros narrowed that lead to four at the period closed.
 
The late run by the Toreros to close the first quarter continued into the second.  At the media timeout, USD had retaken the lead at 28-26 thanks to a 15-2 run.  The Dons were held scoreless for three and a half minutes during that stretch.
 
The Toreros went into the locker room leading 34-32 at the half.  To open the second half, USF appeared to take the momentum back going on an 8-6 run to tie the game at 40 on a jumper in the paint by Krimili. USD took the lead back for good a few minutes later on a jumper in the key by Hunter.
 
San Diego slowly increased their lead over the third and fourth quarter, eventually leading by as much as 10, 57-47 with 4:23 to play.
 
USF will return to action on Saturday when they host Pepperdine.  Saturday's contest is scheduled to tip off at 2:00 p.m. It will be streamed live on the WCC Network with George Devine calling the action live from War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.