SAN FRANCISCO/STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team (5-10, 1-1) continues conference play when it hosts Pepperdine (5-10, 1-1) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center before traveling east to take on Pacific (9-6, 1-1) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Alex G. Spanos Center.

GAME 16 DETAILS:
Date: January 11, 2024
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: Pepperdine
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
GAME 17 DETAILS:
Date: January 13, 2024
Time: 2 p.m.
Opponent: Pacific
Site: Alex G. Spanos Center
Location: Stockton, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Dons Radio Network
Live Stats: SIDEARM
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• San Francisco is coming off a split in the first week of WCC action as the Dons dismantled Loyola Marymount, 63-38, on the road before falling short at home against Portland, 67-60.
• Debora dos Santos led the charge throughout the week, averaging 15.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per game in two games. Dos Santos produced a double-double in less than 12 minutes of playing time in the win over LMU last Thursday and finished with 16 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. Recording another high-end performance on Saturday, dos Santos recorded 15 points and 13 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season.
• In 15 games this season, dos Santos is averaging a double-double with 14 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. She stands alone as the lone player in the conference to be averaging double digits in at least two statistical categories. 
• Dos Santos ranks high nationally in multiple categories, including defensive rebounds per game (t-26th – 7.0), offensive rebounds per game (t-18th – 3.8), rebounds per game (15th – 10.8), and double-doubles (t-ninth – nine).
• Jasmine Gayles produced back-to-back 20-point performances against LMU and Portland, leading the team with 20 points on 50 percent (eight-for-16) shooting. Gayles followed with another efficient shooting performance, knocking down 10 of her 21 attempts for 23 points in the narrow loss to Portland.
• Gayles continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game, which ranks her third in the WCC.
• In a historic defensive performance in the win at LMU, San Francisco held the Lions to just 38 points, marking the lowest point total for a conference opponent in a regular-season game since the Dons held San Diego to 38 points in a 69-38 win during the 1996-97 season.
• As a team, the green and gold performed well on the defensive end in the opening two conference games, holding LMU and Portland to under 35 percent shooting. The Dons also rank first in the WCC in scoring defense during conference play, allowing just 52.5 points per game.

SCOUTING THE WAVES:

• Pepperdine enters the second week of WCC play after splitting its first two conference games with San Diego and LMU. The Waves narrowly defeated the Toreros on the road, earning a 53-52 on Thursday, and then dropped a 64-50 decision in the conference home opener to LMU, 64-50 on Saturday.
• Jane Nwaba leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 9.5 points and 7.9 boards per game. Nwaba has reached double figures in seven of the team's 15 games, including recording a team-high 14 points in the win at San Diego last Thursday.
• Competing in her first Division I season, Ella Brubaker ranks second on the team with 9.1 points per game, while Myra Gordon (7.9 points per game) and Addi Melone (7.1 points per game) also propel the Waves offensively.
• Pepperdine ranks third in the WCC and 69th nationally in bench points per game, averaging 23.7. The Waves have outscored their opponents in bench points in 11 of the team's 15 games this season.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Pacific split its first two games of conference play last week, earning a come-from-behind 60-57 victory at Saint Mary's on Thursday before falling at Santa Clara 80-77 on Saturday. Before the Dons travel to Stockton, the Tigers will host LMU at the Alex G. Spanos Center on Thursday, Jan. 11.
• The Tigers have four players averaging double-digit points this season, with Elizabeth Elliot leading the team at 14.9 points per game. Elliot, who ranks fourth in the WCC in scoring, has reached double figures in 12 games while having three games of 20+ points. In the win at Saint Mary's, Elliot scored a team-high 23 points while shooting 84.6 percent (11-for-13) from the field.
• Liz Smith (13.9 points per game), Anaya James (12.6 points per game), and Cecilia Holmberg (10.9 points per game) round out the Tigers' top scorers.
• A prolific passer, James leads the team and ranks second in the WCC in assists with 82. The junior guard surpassed 300 career assists after posting nine against Columbia earlier this season.
• As a team, Pacific ranks second in the WCC in scoring offense, averaging 73.3 points per game. Defensively, the Tigers rank last in the conference, allowing 70.3 points per game. 

SERIES HISTORY:

• San Francisco and Pepperdine have faced off 87 times in program history, with the Dons holding a narrow 45-42 advantage against the Waves. Last season, the two teams split the series as the green and gold earned a 73-63 win over the Waves at home on December 19, 2022.
• San Francisco holds a 26-22 lead in the all-time series against Pacific, with 11 wins coming since the Tigers joined the WCC before the 2013-14 season. The two programs split two games last season as the Dons broke the single-game record for three-pointers in a game with 16 in a 91-80 win over the Tigers at home on January 12, 2023.

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsWBB on Twitter, @USFDonsWBB on Instagram and @USFDonsWBB on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
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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.