The Buzz

The Dons, 9-5 on the year, are still seeking their elusive first win in West Coast Conference action after dropping consecutive one-possession heart-breakers to Saint Mary's and San Diego. Should USF post the victory at BYU, it will be its second win at the Marriott Center in program history.

#WeAreSF

The Dons have three women averaging double-digit scoring, paced by Taylor Proctor's team-leading 14.1 points on .475 shooting and 7.9 rebounds a night. Zhane Dikes is averaging 10.7 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Dons, both figures second to Proctor. Taj Winston puts up 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

USF's 74.0 percent shooting from the free throw line rates third in the WCC, and 36th nationally. With a renewed intensity on defense and ball control, the Dons stand in second in field goal percentage defense (.367), and their 14.1 turnovers a night is a league-best figure.

Know the Foe

BYU enters Saturday shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from three, both tops in the WCC. Along with a potent offensive attack, the Cougars' defense holds opponents to a league-best 36.6 percent shooting.

Individually, Lexi Eaton's 18.6 points per game leads the conference and rates 46th in the NCAA. Teammate Morgan Bailey is posting a double-double of 17.9 points on .512 shooting and 10.3 rebounds a night. The duo accounts for more than half of the Cougars' point tally each game.

USF & BYU - The Series

The Cougars hold the 10-2 overall advantage in the all-time series, and BYU swept the Dons in the regular season last year. USF's only win at the Marriott Center occurred Jan. 16, 2012, when the Dons upended then-No. 23 ranked BYU 71-64 to stun the Cougars and record one of the best upsets of the year.

Current streak: L2 • Last 5: 2-3 • At WMG: 1-4 • Away: 1-5 • Neutral: 0-1

Last Time Out

Thursday in San Diego brought yet another close game for the San Francisco women's basketball team. And the result was yet another heartbreaking loss for the Dons. After what would have been the potential game-winning basket for USF with 4.4 seconds to play was waved off, the Toreros hung on to record a 56-55 victory at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

For USF, the one-point loss is the second consecutive defeat by a one-possession margin.

The Dons were paced by a pair of performers on the floor. Taylor Proctor finished with 15 points on .500 shooting and a 5-of-7 effort from the line, and five rebounds. Taj Winston added 14 points, and a game-high four steals. She grabbed seven rebounds, including a team-high four on the offensive glass.

Jump Around

As was the trend last season, USF has been solid on the opening tip, with the combination of Paige Spietz and Taylor Proctor winning 13-of-14 - 92.9 percent - of jumps from the circle thus far.

Strong Start

USF's early season start matches some streaks that have been on the books for decades. USF's 3-0 mark was just the fourth in program history (since 1976).

The Last Time ...
The Dons opened the year 3-0    1983-84
The Dons opened the year 6-1    1994-95
The Dons opened the year 9-2    1996-97
The Dons won seven in a row at home    1996-97

On the Air

Joe Castellano takes to the airwaves from Provo, filling in for long-time voice of the Dons George Devine. Castellano broadcast Siena College men's basketball for four years and called NCAA men's and women's basketball for Westwood One Radio Network.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics he was the women's basketball announcer for Westwood One. Castellano is currently a play-by-play announcer for Comcast and hosts a San Francisco Giants podcast called "Inside China Basin" on TheSportsVirus.com.

Watch all home games on theW.tv/live, in partnership with Silver Chalice/Campus Insiders. Catch the action for both home and away contests at usfdons.com/LIVE.

On the Horizon

USF returns home to the friendly confines of War Memorial Gym to take on Gonzaga Thursday at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs have won at least a share of the last 10 WCC regular season championships and were picked to defend again in 2014-15.

Get Connected

Fans can keep up on the latest in USF Athletics in a variety of ways.
Follow USF Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ DonsAthletics
Follow USF women's basketball on Facebook at www.facebook.com/San FranciscoWBB, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/USFDonsWBB, or via Instagram at www.instagram.com/USFBasketball
Check out video of the Dons in action at www.youtube.com/usfdonsathletics and tune in to Comcast SportsNet California for USF's monthly cable feature series, "Behind the Mask". The recently debuted fourth episode features a segment on USF senior guard  Taj Winston . Check local listings for air times and dates.