THIS WEEK: The University of San Francisco women's basketball team will open the 2011-12 season this week as it hosts CSU Northridge Friday before going south to San Jose to face the Spartans Sunday afternoon. Friday's season opener will be the first basketball game held in the recently upgraded War Memorial Gym. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. Sunday USF and San Jose State are scheduled to tip at 2 p.m. at the Event Center.
LAST OUTING: The Dons hosted Dominican last week in their lone exhibition contest of the 2011-12 season. Freshman guard
Taj Winston led the Green and Gold in the game, recording a double-double with a team-leading 19 points and 15 rebounds.
LOOKING AHEAD: USF will return home Wednesday to host Cal Poly in the first of a double-header with the San Francisco men's basketball team. The women's team will tip at 6 p.m. The following Friday, Nov. 18, San Francisco will host Northern Colorado at 7 p.m. in the final home contest until December 7.
11-11-11 OPENING ACT: The Dons will open the 2011-12 regular season November 11, as they host Cal State Northridge at 3 p.m. at War Memorial Gym. The game will be the first of three basketball games held on the Hilltop Friday night. Following the women's game at 3 p.m., the USF Men's Basketball team will host North Dakota at 6 p.m. Following the Dons men's game, Lousiana-Lafayette will face off against Northern Arizona.
DONS INK THREE FOR 2012-13: Wednesday, head coach
Jennifer Azzi announced the signing of three to National Letters of Intent. Joining the Dons on the Hilltop next fall will be Taylor Proctor - a 6-0 forward from Colorado Springs, Colo., Zhane Dikes - a 5-9 guard from Las Vegas, Nev., and Bryn Stark, a 6-0 forward from La Jolla, Calif.
JENNIFER AZZI ERA: This season marks the 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.
2010-11 REVIEW: San Francisco finished the 2010-11 season with a 4-25 overall record, 1-13 in West Coast Conference play. The Dons were led by graduated senior
Kelly Jo Mullaney, who averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
NEW FACES THIS SEASON: The Dons welcome five newcomers to the squad this season, as Azzi turns to them to bring new breath into the program. Leading the pack is freshman guard,
Jamie Katuna. Katuna joins the San Francisco program as the most highly regarded newcomer in program history. At the conclusion of her high school career, the native of Longmont, Colo. was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year and was selected as a Parade All-American. Joining Katuna as freshmen on the Hilltop this year will be
Taj Winston,
Aundrea Gordon,
Alicia Scafidi and
Madisen Irwin.
DONS RETURN SEVEN FROM A YEAR AGO: USF will welcome back seven letter winners from last season's squad. The veterans account for over just half of the Don's scoring efforts in 2010-11. Leading the way are seniors
Katy Keating and
Vania Singleterry. Keating paces the group with 8.9 points per game last year. She also led all returning Dons with 4.1 rebounds per game. Thanks to a strong effort during league play, Singleterry finished her junior season with 7.3 points per game and 4.1 boards. Joining the Senior duo as veterans will be senior
Rheina Ale, Juniors
Whitney Daniels,
Bailey Barbour and
Mel Khlok, as well as freshmen
Savannah Erskine and
Alexa Hardick.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT: This fall, a trio of returners have emerged during fall workouts. Junior
Bailey Barbour has continued to improve with her post play. As a sophomore, Barbour led the Dons with 29 blocks. Also enjoying a strong fall is sophomore
Savannah Erskine, who appeared in 17 games as a reserve last season. Senior
Vania Singleterry, one of four starters returning from last year, has emerged from the returning forwards this fall. Last year, Singleterry averaged 7.3 points per game.
ALE GAINING GROUND: Senior guard
Rheina Ale enters the 2011-12 season looking to gain ground in the USF career-record books. The native of Carson, Calif., currently holds two spots in the career top-10 record books. Ale sits third in free throw %, shooting at a .805 (235-292) clip from the line, Carey Sauer (1999-04) holds the record, shooting 87.4% (382-437). The two-time captain, Ale, is fourth all-time in 3-pointers made, with 116. She is currently on pace to break Shay Rollins (2005-09) school record of 205.
2011-12 SCHEDULE: USF is scheduled this season to play up-to-as many as 14 contests against teams that competed in the post-season a year ago. The schedule also features a new-formatted West Coast Conference schedule that includes two games against first-year league member Brigham Young. The Green and Gold will open the 2011-12 campaign at home against Cal State Northridge, Friday, November 11 at 3 p.m. at War Memorial Gym.
RETURNING TO THE SIDELINES: Returning with head coach
Jennifer Azzi this season on the bench will be associate head coach Katy Steding and assistant coaches Molly Marrin and
Blair Hardiek. Steding, an Olympic gold medalist and a NCAA National Champion at Stanford University, joined the Dons in 2010 from Columbia University. Prior to coaching the Lions, Steding spent a season as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA and seven years at Warner Pacific. Hardiek came to the Hilltop after a year at San Francisco State and a four-year playing career at Missouri. Marrin, who is in her fourth year at USF, is entering her ninth season as an assistant coach at the Division I level – all as the recruiting coordinator.
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. Its a great place to catch up on links, news and everything else to do with USF women's basketball.
USF BASKETBALL RETURNS ONLINE: USF women's basketball returns online for the 2011-12 season with all games available on USFDons.com. Join
George Devine for the play-by-play in his 16th year behind the mic for the Dons. Other features on USFDons.com include live stats with live play-by-play and streaming video of all home games courtesy of Yahoo Broadcast. This season's online video stream will feature a new look featuring multiple camera angles from throughout War Memorial Gym.
FOLLOW THE DONS ON YOUR SMART PHONE!: This season, all USF women's basketball home games will be available for live streaming on your computer - and one your mobile phone! For stats away from your monitor, please visit USFStats.com. The link will also feature live video from all of the Dons' home games this season!
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!
