PROVO, Utah -- Returning to play on a Thursday morning, the USF Dons women's basketball team (13-7, 3-5) came up short on the road against the BYU Cougars (11-8, 6-2) by a 78-59 final score at the Marriott Center. 

The Dons were lead on Thursday by Kennedy Dickie's 14 points while Ioanna Krimili contributed nine points of her own for USF playing against a BYU team that has won six straight games. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• The Dons were able to strike first on Thursday morning as Kennedy Dickie got the scoring started by knocking down an open three and Jessica McDowell-White followed with one of her own as USF trailed 8-6 early. After the Cougars went on a run of their own, the Dons were able to rattle off nine straight points thanks to Ioanna Krimili and Jasmine Gayles before BYU settled in to lead 20-15 at the end of the first quarter.
• Krimili started the quarter hot by knocking down a three-point shot to get USF within two before BYU was able to put together some separation on the scoreboard. With the Dons trailing by double digits, Cami Fulcher came off the bench and scored five quick points of her own to get the Dons a little closer. Following a bucket from Abby Rathbun, USF trailed 42-30 at the break from the Marriott Center. 
• Coming out of the break, USF was able to score off a Kia Vaalavirta drive to the basket that put the Dons' deficit back down to 12 points in the third quarter. USF was able to bring their deficit back down to 11 points thanks to an Amy Baum steal and lay up before the Cougars regained control to lead 61-45 heading into the fourth quarter. 
• Trailing late in the game, USF received some nice contributions from Malia Latu off the bench as she scored six points in the quarter and came away with a couple of steals as the Dons were unable to come all the way back falling 78-59 on the road Thursday. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Dickie led the way for the Dons on Thursday morning as she scored 14 points while grabbing four rebounds, dishing out a pair of assists and coming away with a steal against the Cougars. 
• Krimili was USF's second leading scorer against BYU as she went for nine points and secured three rebounds to go along with an assist.
• Providing a spark off the bench on both ends of the floor, Fulcher scored five points and grabbed a rebound while playing 18 minutes against the Cougars.
• Scoring some key points late, Latu poured in six points while also grabbing two boards and coming away with a couple of steals. 

POST GAME WITH THE DONS:

• To view the post game press conference with head USF women's basketball coach Molly Goodenbour, please click here. 

UP NEXT:
The Dons now head south to take on the San Diego Toreros (10-8, 4-3) at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21 from Jenny Craig Pavilion. USF split their pair of meetings with USD last season as the home team won both contests. 

TICKETS AND MERCHANDISE:
Single-game tickets for West Coast Conference basketball games are currently on sale at www.usfdons.com/tickets. 

Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at www.usfdons.com/shop.

FOLLOW US:
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.

SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Provident Credit Union - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.