 |  |
February 23, 2012
Dons Close Out Regular Season, Host Senior Day Thursday
THIS WEEK: San Francisco closes out the regular season this week, hosting Portland on Senior Night before returning to the road to take on Santa Clara. The Dons and Pilots will face off Thursday at 7 p.m., before the Green and Gold takes on their Bay Area rivals Saturday at 2 p.m. in the South Bay.
LOOKING AHEAD: San Francisco will compete in the 2012 Zappos.com West Coast Conference Tournament at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
KATUNA EARNS NATIONAL HONOR: College Sports Madness named San Francisco freshman guard Jamie Katuna its Madness National High-Major Women's Basketball Player of the Week and West Coast Player of the Week for her exceptional performance during the past week. Katuna scored a team-high 21 points in the Dons' 71-64 upset victory at No. 23 Brigham Young on Thursday. Katuna went 6-for-9 from the field, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range as USF posted its first top-25 victory since shocking No. 7 Kentucky in the 2003 Odwalla Classic. Katuna went 7-for-8 at the free throw line – including all four she attempted in the final 30 seconds – in 30 minutes off the USF bench.
ALE BECOMES ALL-TIME MINUTES LEADER: Senior Rheina Ale earned a top spot in the USF career record books against Gonzaga, playing 36 minutes, moving into the top spot in the career record books for minutes played. With two games remaining in the regular season, Ale has played 3,679 career minutes. Jamie Shadian, who donned the Green and Gold from 1993-97, held the previous school record of 3,639. In 113 career games, Ale has averaged 32.6 minutes per game. Ale, who will graduate this spring, currently holds spots in five spots in the all-time record books. After going a perfect 8-for-8 from the line Thursday at BYU, Ale sits second in free throw percentage, shooting at a .820 (366-446) clip from the line. The three-time captain is also third all-time in 3-pointers made with 158. Ale also holds a spot in the all-time scoring ranks, tallying 1,288 points to hold down ninth place. Also, thanks to her start last week, the native of Carson has amassed 109 career starts, ranking fifth all-time.
USF CREATES A PINK ZONE: The USF women's basketball team hosted its annual "Pink Zone" game, two Saturdays ago against the Zags. Fans were encouraged to join the Dons and Bulldogs in the unified effort to raise breast cancer awareness by wearing pink to the game. For the occasion, the Dons wore pink Under Armour shoes. The Women's Basketball Coaches Association began the WBCA "Pink Zone", formerly known as "Think Pink", in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in the community. In 2007, over 120 schools unified for the effort, helping to make the inaugural year a success.
KHLOK BREAKS OUT FOR CAREER NIGHT: Junior Mel Khlok exploded into the single game record books two weeks ago against the Gaels. Khlok finished the evening with 32 points and six steals. The last time a San Francisco Don scored 30 or more points in a game was in 2008, was when Dominique Carter scored 35 points at Saint Mary's. Khlok's 32-point effort ranks as tied for seven in the single-game record books. Khlok shot 10-for-12 from the field, including going 6-for-7 from 3-point range. The junior from Sacramento fell one three shy of the school record of 7, marking the second time this season a member of the Green and Gold has done so. Katy Keating hit six 3-point baskets at UC Davis earlier this season. Khlok's shooting average, .833, during the game ranks tied for eighth in the record book. The record, shooting a perfect 1.000 with a minimum of eight attempts, has been accomplished twice, including once by senior Rheina Ale. Khlok's six steals is highest single game mark for USF since Ale nabbed six at San Diego last season. The school, War Memorial Gym, and West Coast Conference record for steals in a game is 11 and held by Teri Hunt. At BYU, Khlok continued to set career-highs, dishing out seven assists.
SAN FRANCISCO LAUNCHES NEW MULTI-MEDIA CAMPAIGN: The University of San Francisco Athletics Department, in conjunction with GAGA Sports and Entertainment have launched the Dons Insider (http://insider.usfdons.com), offering registered users exclusive videos, news, and a chance to win a BMW from BMW of San Francisco. Dons Insider is the premier destination for exclusive USF Dons news, player insights, student and staff videos, contests, discounts to games, and much more.
ALE JOINS ELITE COMPANY: Senior Rheina Ale joined an elite group of Dons at Colorado. With 1:26 remaining in the first half against the Buffaloes, Ale went to the line for two free throws. After missing the first, the native of Carson, Calif. sank the second to become the 19th player in USF (1-7) women's basketball history to score 1,000 or more points. The captain entered the game with 990 career points. Ale reached the illustrious mark in 95 career games played. Her team-high 23 points against the Buffaloes also moved Ale into the all-time scoring ranks with 1,013 to rank 17th in program history. She now holds spots in five all-time USF career categories. Currently, Ale boasts 1,271 career points, recently passing Melinda Harrison (1985-89), Valerie Gillon (1993-96) and Terri Hunt (1984-87) to crack into the top-10 and sit in ninth place.
KEATING BOOSTS HER SPOT IN THE RECORD BOOK: Thanks to an attack from deep over the opening weekend of play, senior Katy Keating as propelled herself into third place in the all-time USF record book for 3-point baskets made. Keating, who entered the season with 113 baskets from beyond the arc, tallied five 3-point baskets against the Matadors and four more against the Spartans on the opening weekend to launch herself into a tie for third. At UC Davis, Keating tallied 18 points thanks to six baskets from deep. The mark fell one short shy of the single game school record, but narrowed the difference between her and second place. To date, Keating has hit 162 3-point baskets, recently moving into sole possession of second place, passing Lindsey Huff (1997-02), who has 146. The school record for career 3-point field goals made is 205, held by Shay Rollins (2005-09).
AZZI NOMINATED FOR NAISMITH MEMORIAL HALL OF FAME: Jennifer Azzi, head coach of the University of San Francisco women's basketball team, has been nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as announced over the opening weekend of the season. The Class of 2012 ballot marked the first time Azzi was eligible to be nominated for the Hall. Azzi is one of two NCAA Division I women's basketball head coaches to be nominated this season. Teresa Weatherspoon, head coach at Louisiana Tech, is in her third season with the Lady Techsters. In 2011, Azzi's collegiate and National Team coach, Stanford's Tara VanDerveer, was inducted into the Hall. To become a finalist for the Hall, a candidate must receive seven of nine votes from a screening committee – five of seven for women – during a vote in late-January or early-February. Results are scheduled to be announced February 24, 2012 during All-Star weekend in Orlando. Candidates that make the cut will be judged by a separate committee in late-February or early-March and need at least 18 of 24 votes to be inducted. Inductees will be announced at the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans.
SAN FRANCISCO POSTS HIGH AND LOW MARKS: San Francisco women's basketball has amassed some lofty numbers this season, hitting highs – and lows – that haven't been reached in years. Against Sacramento State, the Dons posted 35 field goals for a .538 shooting percentage. USF hit 35 or more FGs last, on December 1, 2010 at Sacramento State, when they also hit 35 baskets. Also against the Hornets, USF dished out 20 assists, marking the first time since December 29, 2010 they hit the 20 –assist mark. Last season, USF dished out 26 against Academy of Art. The last time USF shot .538 or better was against Cal Poly when the Dons shot .558 in San Luis Obispo in December of 2008. The USF Dons hit some pretty notable numbers at San Jose State, sinking 25 free throws. The last time San Francisco hit 25 or more free throws was in 2007, when it sank 29 against Cal Poly at War Memorial Gym. Wednesday, November 30, at Colorado, the Dons also posted some lofty and low numbers. San Francisco grabbed 12 steals while only committing nine turnovers. The dozen steals marks the most since USF grabbed 14 on February 14, 2009 at Gonzaga. The last time the Dons had nine or fewer turnovers was when USF committed nine mishaps against Loyola Marymount, March 5, 2010, during the West Coast Conference Tournament.
JENNIFER AZZI ERA: This season marks the second season as women's basketball legend Jennifer Azzi as head coach. Azzi, who was named to the helm of the program in April of 2010, brings an unprecedented wealth of basketball experience to the program. The 2009 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee played five seasons in the WNBA, was a founding member of the American Basketball League (ABL), played overseas and enjoyed an All-American collegiate career at Stanford. Internationally, Azzi was a member of the USA Basketball Senior National Team from 1990-91 and 1993-98. A key member of the United States gold medal-winning 1996 Olympic Team that concluded a perfect 60-0 season with an 8-0 record during the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Azzi played on 13 USA National Teams, compiling a mark of 114-14. She also medaled three times at the World Championships, claiming gold in 1998 and 1990, while earning a bronze in 1994.
FOLLOW THE DONS ONLINE: Fans, make sure to become a friend of the University of San Francisco women's basketball team on Facebook! The Dons' Facebook page features photos, videos and much much more from behind the scenes of the season. It's a great place to catch up on links, news and everything else to do with USF women's basketball.
TICKETS TO SEE THE DONS PLAY LIVE: For season tickets and single game tickets to the rest of the Dons' home games this season, please visit USFDons.com and click on Tickets. Last year the Dons ranked season in the West Coast Conference for home attendance, averaging over 1,000 fans each home game!
LOOKING AHEAD: San Francisco will compete in the 2012 Zappos.com West Coast Conference Tournament at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
KATUNA EARNS NATIONAL HONOR: College Sports Madness named San Francisco freshman guard Jamie Katuna its Madness National High-Major Women's Basketball Player of the Week and West Coast Player of the Week for her exceptional performance during the past week. Katuna scored a team-high 21 points in the Dons' 71-64 upset victory at No. 23 Brigham Young on Thursday. Katuna went 6-for-9 from the field, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range as USF posted its first top-25 victory since shocking No. 7 Kentucky in the 2003 Odwalla Classic. Katuna went 7-for-8 at the free throw line – including all four she attempted in the final 30 seconds – in 30 minutes off the USF bench.
ALE BECOMES ALL-TIME MINUTES LEADER: Senior Rheina Ale earned a top spot in the USF career record books against Gonzaga, playing 36 minutes, moving into the top spot in the career record books for minutes played. With two games remaining in the regular season, Ale has played 3,679 career minutes. Jamie Shadian, who donned the Green and Gold from 1993-97, held the previous school record of 3,639. In 113 career games, Ale has averaged 32.6 minutes per game. Ale, who will graduate this spring, currently holds spots in five spots in the all-time record books. After going a perfect 8-for-8 from the line Thursday at BYU, Ale sits second in free throw percentage, shooting at a .820 (366-446) clip from the line. The three-time captain is also third all-time in 3-pointers made with 158. Ale also holds a spot in the all-time scoring ranks, tallying 1,288 points to hold down ninth place. Also, thanks to her start last week, the native of Carson has amassed 109 career starts, ranking fifth all-time.
USF CREATES A PINK ZONE: The USF women's basketball team hosted its annual "Pink Zone" game, two Saturdays ago against the Zags. Fans were encouraged to join the Dons and Bulldogs in the unified effort to raise breast cancer awareness by wearing pink to the game. For the occasion, the Dons wore pink Under Armour shoes. The Women's Basketball Coaches Association began the WBCA "Pink Zone", formerly known as "Think Pink", in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in the community. In 2007, over 120 schools unified for the effort, helping to make the inaugural year a success.
KHLOK BREAKS OUT FOR CAREER NIGHT: Junior Mel Khlok exploded into the single game record books two weeks ago against the Gaels. Khlok finished the evening with 32 points and six steals. The last time a San Francisco Don scored 30 or more points in a game was in 2008, was when Dominique Carter scored 35 points at Saint Mary's. Khlok's 32-point effort ranks as tied for seven in the single-game record books. Khlok shot 10-for-12 from the field, including going 6-for-7 from 3-point range. The junior from Sacramento fell one three shy of the school record of 7, marking the second time this season a member of the Green and Gold has done so. Katy Keating hit six 3-point baskets at UC Davis earlier this season. Khlok's shooting average, .833, during the game ranks tied for eighth in the record book. The record, shooting a perfect 1.000 with a minimum of eight attempts, has been accomplished twice, including once by senior Rheina Ale. Khlok's six steals is highest single game mark for USF since Ale nabbed six at San Diego last season. The school, War Memorial Gym, and West Coast Conference record for steals in a game is 11 and held by Teri Hunt. At BYU, Khlok continued to set career-highs, dishing out seven assists.
SAN FRANCISCO LAUNCHES NEW MULTI-MEDIA CAMPAIGN: The University of San Francisco Athletics Department, in conjunction with GAGA Sports and Entertainment have launched the Dons Insider (http://insider.usfdons.com), offering registered users exclusive videos, news, and a chance to win a BMW from BMW of San Francisco. Dons Insider is the premier destination for exclusive USF Dons news, player insights, student and staff videos, contests, discounts to games, and much more.
ALE JOINS ELITE COMPANY: Senior Rheina Ale joined an elite group of Dons at Colorado. With 1:26 remaining in the first half against the Buffaloes, Ale went to the line for two free throws. After missing the first, the native of Carson, Calif. sank the second to become the 19th player in USF (1-7) women's basketball history to score 1,000 or more points. The captain entered the game with 990 career points. Ale reached the illustrious mark in 95 career games played. Her team-high 23 points against the Buffaloes also moved Ale into the all-time scoring ranks with 1,013 to rank 17th in program history. She now holds spots in five all-time USF career categories. Currently, Ale boasts 1,271 career points, recently passing Melinda Harrison (1985-89), Valerie Gillon (1993-96) and Terri Hunt (1984-87) to crack into the top-10 and sit in ninth place.
KEATING BOOSTS HER SPOT IN THE RECORD BOOK: Thanks to an attack from deep over the opening weekend of play, senior Katy Keating as propelled herself into third place in the all-time USF record book for 3-point baskets made. Keating, who entered the season with 113 baskets from beyond the arc, tallied five 3-point baskets against the Matadors and four more against the Spartans on the opening weekend to launch herself into a tie for third. At UC Davis, Keating tallied 18 points thanks to six baskets from deep. The mark fell one short shy of the single game school record, but narrowed the difference between her and second place. To date, Keating has hit 162 3-point baskets, recently moving into sole possession of second place, passing Lindsey Huff (1997-02), who has 146. The school record for career 3-point field goals made is 205, held by Shay Rollins (2005-09).
AZZI NOMINATED FOR NAISMITH MEMORIAL HALL OF FAME: Jennifer Azzi, head coach of the University of San Francisco women's basketball team, has been nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as announced over the opening weekend of the season. The Class of 2012 ballot marked the first time Azzi was eligible to be nominated for the Hall. Azzi is one of two NCAA Division I women's basketball head coaches to be nominated this season. Teresa Weatherspoon, head coach at Louisiana Tech, is in her third season with the Lady Techsters. In 2011, Azzi's collegiate and National Team coach, Stanford's Tara VanDerveer, was inducted into the Hall. To become a finalist for the Hall, a candidate must receive seven of nine votes from a screening committee – five of seven for women – during a vote in late-January or early-February. Results are scheduled to be announced February 24, 2012 during All-Star weekend in Orlando. Candidates that make the cut will be judged by a separate committee in late-February or early-March and need at least 18 of 24 votes to be inducted. Inductees will be announced at the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans.
SAN FRANCISCO POSTS HIGH AND LOW MARKS: San Francisco women's basketball has amassed some lofty numbers this season, hitting highs – and lows – that haven't been reached in years. Against Sacramento State, the Dons posted 35 field goals for a .538 shooting percentage. USF hit 35 or more FGs last, on December 1, 2010 at Sacramento State, when they also hit 35 baskets. Also against the Hornets, USF dished out 20 assists, marking the first time since December 29, 2010 they hit the 20 –assist mark. Last season, USF dished out 26 against Academy of Art. The last time USF shot .538 or better was against Cal Poly when the Dons shot .558 in San Luis Obispo in December of 2008. The USF Dons hit some pretty notable numbers at San Jose State, sinking 25 free throws. The last time San Francisco hit 25 or more free throws was in 2007, when it sank 29 against Cal Poly at War Memorial Gym. Wednesday, November 30, at Colorado, the Dons also posted some lofty and low numbers. San Francisco grabbed 12 steals while only committing nine turnovers. The dozen steals marks the most since USF grabbed 14 on February 14, 2009 at Gonzaga. The last time the Dons had nine or fewer turnovers was when USF committed nine mishaps against Loyola Marymount, March 5, 2010, during the West Coast Conference Tournament.
JENNIFER AZZI ERA: This season marks the second season as women's basketball legend Jennifer Azzi as head coach. Azzi, who was named to the helm of the program in April of 2010, brings an unprecedented wealth of basketball experience to the program. The 2009 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee played five seasons in the WNBA, was a founding member of the American Basketball League (ABL), played overseas and enjoyed an All-American collegiate career at Stanford. Internationally, Azzi was a member of the USA Basketball Senior National Team from 1990-91 and 1993-98. A key member of the United States gold medal-winning 1996 Olympic Team that concluded a perfect 60-0 season with an 8-0 record during the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Azzi played on 13 USA National Teams, compiling a mark of 114-14. She also medaled three times at the World Championships, claiming gold in 1998 and 1990, while earning a bronze in 1994.
FOLLOW THE DONS ONLINE: Fans, make sure to become a friend of the University of San Francisco women's basketball team on Facebook! The Dons' Facebook page features photos, videos and much much more from behind the scenes of the season. It's a great place to catch up on links, news and everything else to do with USF women's basketball.
TICKETS TO SEE THE DONS PLAY LIVE: For season tickets and single game tickets to the rest of the Dons' home games this season, please visit USFDons.com and click on Tickets. Last year the Dons ranked season in the West Coast Conference for home attendance, averaging over 1,000 fans each home game!
