USF (4-3) at North Dakota (1-4)
Saturday, Dec. 1 | 12 p.m.
Betty Engelstad Sioux Center | Grand Forks, ND   
Series Record: 1-0 (USF)
Last Meeting: USF, 74-57 (H), 11/25/15
Video: Watch Big Sky
Audio: USFDons.com (Livestream) (George Devine)
Live Stats
Complete Game Notes [PDF]
 
Kalyn Simon's career-high 20 points were not enough to lead the Dons to victory at Fresno State this past Wednesday, but the junior is looking to remain the hot hand as the USF women's basketball team travels to take on North Dakota at 12 p.m. PDT on Saturday afternoon in the Dons' first-ever trip to the Peace Garden State.
 
Simon has been the most consistent offensive force for USF of late, shooting a team-best 60.7 percent (17-28) from the field over the last five contests, in which the Dons are 2-3. Simon is averaging 8.8 points per game over that stretch, which sits behind Rachel Howard's 11.0 points per contest. A staple of Simon's attack recently has been her marksmanship from outside where she is connecting at a team-leading 57.1 percent (8-14) clip from behind the arc, including four 3-pointers in the loss to Fresno State.
 
USF (4-3) will be looking for some of that consistency to rub off on the rest of the team in North Dakota as the Dons search for their first road win of the season. The USF offense, which averages 63.6 points per game, has been slowed away from home so far this season as the Dons are shooting just 30 percent as the visiting team, compared to 47 percent on their home court.
 
They'll run into a North Dakota team that was picked to finish second in the Big Sky Conference and is coming off a narrow 76-71 overtime loss at Kansas. Despite their 1-4 record, UND has played three games against Big 12 opponents and fared reasonably well, falling at Texas Tech, 90-80, and at home to Iowa, 75-60. North Dakota's lone win came at home against Mayville State.
 
The Fighting Hawks will look to their trio of double-digit scorers who have led the offense so far, Leah Szbala (14.2 points per game), Makallah Dyer (13.4) and Lexi Klabo (10.8).  
 
Looking ahead, the Dons will return to San Francisco for a Dec. 6 contest against San Jose State that will be played as the front end of a doubleheader at historic Kezar Pavilion - the former home of USF's three men's basketball national titles (1949, 1955, 1956) - with the men hosting San Francisco State immediately following. With a trip to Cal Poly on Dec. 17, the Dons won't play at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center until Dec. 21 when they host UC Davis.
 
SERIES SNIPPETS
The only previous meeting between USF and North Dakota came last year with the Dons capturing a 74-57 victory at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. Taylor Proctor led USF with 20 points as the Dons only allowed 15 points to UND in the first half en route to the win. USF is 4-2 against Big Sky opponents over the last 5+ seasons, including a 91-80 win over Sacramento State in this year's season opener.