The San Francisco Dons will put it all on the line Wednesday night as they face the Gaels of St. Mary's College, in what will be the championship of the West Coast Conference. "It's any player's dream to be in a game like this," says co-Head Coach May Hile-Nepfel. "We've worked and played hard all year long and welcome the challenge." The Dons, 10-3 in the conference and 19-7 overall, defeated the Gaels, 11-2 in conference, in overtime 75-66 in Moraga January 26, behind 21 points from Alice Solis and 16 rebounds from Jody Bulmer. If the Dons win, both teams will have identical 11-3 conference records but San Francisco will win the conference because they will have defeated St. Mary's in both meetings between the two teams.
USF traveled north last weekend to the Pacific Northwest to face Gonzaga and Portland. In Thursday's game against the Bulldogs of Gonzaga, the Dons suffered their third conference loss of the year, falling 70-65. Joy Boyenga scored 17 points and Melinda Harrison grabbed 12 rebounds in the losing effort. Against the Portland Pilots, Solis provided the offensive punch scoring 17 points, while Harrison was again "Queen of the Boards" grabbing 12 rebounds. "We (Bill and Mary Hile-Nepfel) were pleased with the team," said Hile-Nepfel, "it's really tough to come up north and win two." When asked about the possibility of San Francisco being invited to the NCAA Tournament field of 48, Hile-Nepfel responded, "It would be nice, but right now our primary concern is winning the conference (TheFoghorn)."
