Game 12: USF (9-2, 0-0 WCC) vs. Saint Mary's (9-2, 0-0 WCC)
Monday, Dec. 21 | 7 p.m. | War Memorial at the Sobrato Center (4,268)
Watch/stats/social: WCC Game Center | Tickets
Complete game notes (PDF)

#OneTeam

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After closing out the non-conference slate with a string of seven consecutive, the San Francisco Dons open West Coast Conference play against Bay Area rival Saint Mary's. Stay around after today's game for post-game autographs with the team. As always, faculty, staff, students and youth 12 & under receive free admission to USF women's basketball.

By the Numbers (NCAA rank in parentheses)

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When the Dons have the ball
USF Scoring Offense- 76.6 (40) |Saint Mary's Scoring Defense-71.5 (292)
USF Field Goal Pct. -.470 (14) |Saint Mary's FG Pct. Defense-.385 (161)
USF 3FG Pct. -.372 (27) |Saint Mary's 3FG Pct. Defense - .324 (236)
USF Free Throw Pct. -.724 (64)

When the Gaels have the ball
Saint Mary's Scoring Offense - 76.7 (38) |USF Scoring Defense - 64.7 (202)
Saint Mary's Field Goal Pct. - .454 (29) |USF FG Pct. Defense - .383 (148)
Saint Mary's 3FG Pct. - .309 (169) |USF 3FG Pct. Defense-.359 (320)
Saint Mary's Free Throw Pct-.770 (11)

Comparison (USF/SMC)
Scoring Margin: 11.9/ 5.2
Rebounds/Game:38.8/45.2
Assists/Game: 18.2/14.7
Turnovers/Game: 17.6/17.5
Assist/Turnover Ratio: 1.0/0.8
Steals/Game: 9.5/5.5
Blocks/Game: 3.1/2.8

Know the Foe

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Saint Mary's enters the conference opener sporting a 9-2 mark with marquee wins over Cal, Villanova and Washington State in the non-conference season. The Gaels are led by Lauren Nicholson's 20.2 points per game. Sydney Raggion (13.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg) and Devon Brookshire (12.2 ppg) round out the double-digit scorers.

Saint Mary's leads the NCAA with 217 made free throws entering the week, 16 shots more than the next closest team, SIU-Edwardsville.

Series Snippits

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The Gaels hold the 37-24 advantage in the all-time series, winning five of the last six, and 13 of the last 15 against the Dons.

However, in the last interation, USF earned the 65-63 victory in Moraga, led by a trio of double-digit scorers for the Dons. Anna Seilund went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc to finish with 17 points, and Taylor Proctor added 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the win.

Last Time Out

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The Dons wore out the San Francisco State Gators to close out non-conference slate, overpowering the crosstown foe 73-45 on Saturday afternoon at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

With the victory, USF extends its winning streak to seven games, and enters West Coast Conference play with a 9-2 record, matching last season's start to the year.

The Dons were led by senior Zhane Dikes' first double-double of the season after a 17-point, 10-rebound performance. With 7:30 to play in the one-possession game, she pulled down an offensive rebound and earned a trip to the line. With that crash, Dikes notched her 500th career rebound for the Dons, and joins the exclusive list of 20 women to reach the plateau.

Joining Dikes with a double-digit scoring effort, Taylor Proctor finished with 13 points and six assists, and Claudia Price added 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and five rebounds. Jaylin Jones went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field, and 2-for-2 from distance to add eight points in the victory.

The Dons finished shooting 50.9 percent on the day, won the battle of the boards 43 to 28 and finished with the 42 to 12 advantage in points in the paint. After being shutout from beyond the arc in the first half, the Dons connected on five of their eight second-half 3-point attempts.

The Last Time

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The Dons are on a tear to open the season, and USF is poised to make waves in the WCC after advancing to the championship game a year ago.

The last time the Dons:
Started 9-2 - 2014-15
Had a seven-game winning streak - 1996-97
Averaged 18 assists a game- 1985-86
Had a 30-point game performance- 2011-12

On the Offensive

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Under the tutelage of one of the best point guards to play the game, the Dons have improved their offensive output and team mentality of sharing the ball and assisting the shooter.

In the year previous to Azzi's arrival on the Hilltop, the Dons shot .338 from the field, .308 from 3-point range and averaged 9.8 assists per game.Currently, the Dons are connecting on 47.0 percent of their attempts, and hitting threes at a rate of 37.2 percent. USF is leading the WCC in assists per game with 18.2.

NCAA Active Career Leaders

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Taylor Proctor currently ranks 35th among active Division I scoring leaders (1,431 points). She also ranks in the top-40 among active players in field goals (535/28th) and double-doubles (21/34th). Fellow senior Zhane Dikes rates 18th in NCAA Division I in career free throw attempts (482) and 23rd in makes (351).

On the Air

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Listen to longtime voice of the Dons, George Devine, behind the mic all season long. Devine is in his 20th season as the play-by-play voice of USF women's basketball.

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

War Memorial at The Sobrato Center

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Silicon Valley philanthropist and real estate developer John A. Sobrato and his wife Susan have made an historic gift of $15 million to the University of San Francisco, the largest gift from individuals in the institution's history.

The gift will support USF's first-ever master plan for athletic facilities, renovate the 60-year old War Memorial Gymnasium, and help USF uphold its tradition of excellence in Division 1 athletics. The multi-use facility will be named The Sobrato Center and will feature a new club level with preferred seating that also bears the Sobrato name.

"As a real estate developer, I like to build things," Sobrato said. "When I saw War Memorial Gym, I asked myself: Why don't we modernize this building, bring in the natural light, and make it a much more inviting place not only for athletics but also for all campus events. It's going to be a great looking building when we're done."

Jumping Ahead

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The Dons head to Stockton to take on Pacific on Wednesday at 5 p.m. After the Christmas holiday, USF will ring in the New Year on the road, playing Gonzaga on Dec. 31 and taking on Portland on Jan. 2.

Get Connected

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Fans can follow the Dons in a variety of ways:
- Via the departmentalTwitter,Facebook,Instagramand Snapchat with the username donsathletics.
- Through the USF women's basketball team-specificTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram.
- OnYouTube at USFDonsAthletics, where fans can view video segments online
- On Comcast SportsNet California in USF Athletics' monthly show, "Behind the Mask"
- With previews, recaps, videos, features and more as seen onUSFDons.com