THE RUNDOWN
SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team was defeated, 66-86, by No. 16 Stanford Wednesday night at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. Head coach
Molly Goodenbour gave her alma mater and former head coach, Tara VanDerveer, a real run.
USF (2-4, 0-0) stunned the ranked Stanford squad (5-3, 0-0) in the first quarter with four three-pointers from four different Dons. Their shooting from beyond the perimeter gave them a 19-12 edge over the visitors headed into the second frame.
The Cardinal was able to hold USF to nine points in quarter two, trimming the Dons lead to four points and entering the half 24-28.
Although USF shot 50.0 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the line in the third, while also adding three three-pointers, Stanford ran away with the third quarter and topped the Dons numbers. The Cardinal went on a 16-9 run in the final five minutes of the period to close it out 56-49. The visitors were 61.1 percent in field goal range, 55.6 percent from three-point range and 62.5 percent from the line.
Entering the final frame, the Cardinal led 56-49, and would not relinquish the lead again. The Dons came within seven, but ultimately lost, 66-86
DONS BY THE NUMBERS
- Michaela Rakova and Ninni Salmi each contributed 15 points.
- Salmi had a season-high (for any Don) with five three-pointers on 55.6 percent. She also had six rebounds.
- Rakova has now led or tied in leading in scoring in the past three of USF's games. It is her fourth game scoring in double-digits.
- Anna Seilund added 10 points, including, two three-pointers, two rebounds, and tied her season-high with eight assists.
- The Dons shot 57.7 percent from beyond the perimeter in the first quarter.
WHAT'S GOODnebour
On her team's performance:
"I was very pleased with our players' effort and focus. We talked before the game about being competitive, tough and hard-working. We executed those things.
Overall, I thought it was a great team effort with only eight healthy players. Everyone contributed in a positive way. This game should give us confidence that we can compete with anyone on our schedule when we are focused and prepared."
On strategy entering the game:
"We chose to sag and jam up the interior because we knew their posts were a tough matchup. That strategy left shooters open and they took advantage of that in the second half."
TWEET OF THE GAME
WHAT'S NEXT
The Dons are set to make the short trip down to San Jose, Calif. for a match against the Spartans (2-4, 0-0) on Friday night at 7 p.m.
