SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- As the anticipation builds and the clock starts to wind down we find ourselves just one day away from the return of college basketball on the Hilltop. The USF Dons' women's basketball program is back in action Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. as they host the Morgan State Bears at War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center.

USF brings together an experienced roster blended with some talented new faces looking to make noise in the WCC and return to postseason play after a WNIT appearance a season ago. 

GAME DETAILS:

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021

Matchup: Morgan State (0-0) vs. San Francisco (0-0)

Location: San Francisco, Calif.

Arena: War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center

Time: 5:00 p.m. PST

Links: Watch  (WCC Network) | Live Stats

MEET THE NEWCOMERS:

• Head coach Molly Goodenbour and staff brought in eight new players this season with four transfers and four freshmen along with the returners make up to form the 2021-22 squad.
• Freshmen Lorena Barbosa, Aya Kéita and Claudia Langarita join the program from the international recruiting ranks, a staple of the program in recent years. Barbosa from Brazil and Langarita from Spain will both provide impact in the post with their size and should have an early impact.
• Kéita, a point guard from Hungary will likely see action this season in a back up capacity after a strong prep career back home. 
• Guard Cami Fulcher from West Linn, Oregon is the fourth member of the freshman class and claim international roots as well as she holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada.
• The transfers include Kennedy Dickie, Debora Dos Santos, Jasmine Gayles and Leilani Peat. 
• Dickie joins USF after beginning her colleigate career at Eastern Washington. She's a 6-foot stretch four who will look to provide scoring and depth in the front court with her ability to stretch the floor. Dickie averaged 11.2 PPG, 5.6 REB and shot 36% from the field for the Eagles.
• Joining the program after a year at South Plains College, Dos Santos was anticipated to get minutes in the front court prior to a season-ending injury. 
• Guard Jasmine Gayles transferred in from Northern Colorado after two strong years with the Bears program. A season ago, Gayles averaged 11.9 PPG, 4.4 REB and shot a career-best 41% from the field. 
• Lastly, forward Leilani Peat completes the class after spending her first three years of college with Seattle University. Peat averaged 2.6 PPG and 2.7 REB for the Redhawks during the 2018-19 season where she played in 26 games and made seven starts.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• USF finished the 2020-21 season with an overall record of 16-11 while going 10-7 in WCC play, good for fourth in the league. The Dons made it to the second round of the WNIT as they defeated Houston in the first round.
• The Dons caught fire in the middle of WCC play as they won 10 of their 12 final conference games including a victory over Saint Mary's in Las Vegas during the WCC Tournament. 
• During Goodenbour's five years leading USF's program the team is 4-1 on opening night, with their most recent home victory coming over San Jose State to begin the 2018-19 season.
• Tuesday evening's matchup against Morgan State will mark the first time both schools have faced each other. 

SCOUTING THE BEARS:

• Morgan State put together a strong, shortened 2020-21 season with a 12-4 record and a very impressive 8-2 mark in the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference.
• Head coach Ed Davis Jr. is entering his sixth year leading the program, accumulating a 67-74 record during that time. Davis Jr. has accumulated 349 wins throughout his coaching career with previous stops at Delaware State and Bowie State. 
• Leading Morgan State's offense are a pair of returners in redshirt senior forward Dahnye Redd and sophomore guard Ja'Niah Henson. Redd led the Bears by averaging 13.5 PPG to go along with 7.3 REB, while Henson averaged 11.3 PPG and shot 35% from deep.
• Tuesday's contest begins a tough non-conference swing for Morgan State as they will take on Stanford, Missouri and Syracuse prior to their home opener on Nov. 19.

For updates and more information on the USF women's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsWBB on Twitter, @USFDonsWBB on Instagram and @USFDonsWBB on Facebook.