SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team (9-13, 5-4) returns to the Hilltop, kicking off a three-game homestand starting with Saint Mary's (10-12, 3-5) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, and Pacific at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
GAME 23 DETAILS:
Date: February 8, 2024
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: Saint Mary's
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
GAME 24 DETAILS:
Date: February 10, 2024
Time: 2 p.m.
Opponent: Pacific
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• San Francisco enters Thursday's matchup against Saint Mary's in a tie for third place in the WCC standings after splitting two road games last week. The Dons dismantled Pepperdine on Thursday, Feb. 1, in a 78-54 decision at Firestone Fieldhouse before falling at San Diego, 77-66, on Saturday, Feb. 3.
• Jasmine Gayles and Debora dos Santos produced back-to-back 20-point performances last week at Pepperdine and San Diego, marking the first time since 2015 that the Dons had consecutive games with two 20-point scorers. Zhane Dikes and Taylor Proctor totaled 24 and 23 points in a win at San Jose State on December 6, 2015, followed by Rachel Howard and Proctor scoring 26 and 20 points at Long Beach State on December 8, 2015.
• Dos Santos led the Dons during the fifth week of league play, as she averaged a double-double with 22.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Dos Santos, who earned her first Credit Union 1 WCC Player of the Week honor of the season, led the team with a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Pepperdine. The redshirt junior forward from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, followed with her league-best 13th double-double of the season as she posted 20 points and 11 rebounds at San Diego.
• In nine WCC games this season, dos Santos ranks fifth in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game, while leading the league in rebounding at 11.6 per game. Dos Santos continues to be the lone WCC member averaging a double-double on the season, totaling 14.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game through 22 contests.
• Gayles averaged 22.5 points per game in two games last week, scoring 23 points in the win at Pepperdine, followed by a 22-point performance at San Diego. Gayles, who leads the WCC in scoring during league play, averaging 21.4 points per game, has reached double figures in all nine conference contests. Overall, Gayles ranks first on the team and second in the WCC in scoring through 22 games, averaging 17.9 points per game.
• Luana Leite showed off her passing abilities last week, totaling eight assists in two games. In nine league games, Leite ranks fifth in total assists (39) and assists per game (4.3) while leading the team overall in assists with 87.
• As a team, San Francisco ranks fifth in the WCC in scoring offense, averaging 67.2 points per game. The Dons also continue to be a dominant rebounding team, leading the conference in rebounds per game (38.0) and defensive rebounds per game (25.7), and fourth in offensive rebounds per game (12.2).

SCOUTING THE GAELS:

• Saint Mary's enters Thursday's contest in seventh place in the WCC standings after dropping a 68-35 decision at home to Portland last Saturday, Feb. 3. The Gaels faced a 19-5 deficit after the first quarter of play as the Pilots cruised to a 33-point victory.
• Despite struggling last week against Portland, Zeryhia Aokuso ranks first on the team in scoring, averaging 11.0 points per game. Aokuso has reached double figures in five of the eight WCC games while surpassing the 20-point threshold twice.
• Ali Bamberger also is averaging double-digit scoring this season, propelling the team with 10.2 points per game. A valuable rebounder and defender, Bamberger leads the team in total rebounds (98) rebounds per game (4.7), and blocks (17).
• As a team, Saint Mary's ranks eighth in the WCC in scoring offense (59.5 points per game) and fifth in scoring defense (64.3 points per game). An efficient shooting team, the Gaels rank third in the WCC in field-goal percentage, shooting at a 43.0 percent clip.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

• Pacific, who are tied with San Francisco in third place in the conference standings, dropped two league games last week, falling on the road to Portland and No. 19 Gonzaga. The Tigers started the week with an 85-72 loss at Portland on Thursday, Feb. 1, followed by a 65-point loss, 104-39, at Gonzaga on Saturday, Feb. 3. The Tigers became the first WCC team to allow 100 points in a game during league play this season.
• Elizabeth Elliot continues to lead the team in multiple statistical categories, ranking first on the team in points per game (14.3), rebounds per game (5.7), and field-goal percentage (59.7). Elliott also ranks second in the WCC and 15th nationally in field-goal percentage, shooting 55 percent or better in a game 13 times this season.
• Liz Smith ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.1 points per game in 16 contests. Smith, who missed six of the last eight games, struggled in her return last week, averaging eight points per game while shooting 18.2 percent (for-for-22) from the field.
• Defensively, the Tigers have two players with double-digit blocks. Lauren Glazier leads the team with 12, while Sydney Ward follows behind with 11.
• Anaya James, a prolific passer, ranks first on the team and second in the WCC in assists with 118. James is one of only five players in the conference with at least 100 assists this season.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Saint Mary's holds the upper hand all-time against San Francisco, earning wins in 48 of the 79 meetings. The two programs split the season series in 2022-23, as both teams earned wins on the road. In a tightly contested matchup in Moraga last season, the Dons pulled ahead late and slipped past the Gaels, 69-66, at the UCU Pavilion on February 9, 2023.
• San Francisco holds a 27-22 lead in the all-time series against Pacific, with 12 wins coming since the Tigers joined the WCC before the 2013-14 season. The Dons took care of business on the road less than a month ago, earning a dominant 81-68 win over the Tigers at the Alex G. Spanos Center. Gayles propelled the team to victory, recording a career-high 40 points, becoming the second player in program history to score 40 or more points in a game. 

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco women's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsWBB on Twitter, @USFDonsWBB on Instagram and @USFDonsWBB on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - ABM - 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.