THE RUNDOWN
SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team defeated BYU (14-11, 9-3), 76-73, Saturday afternoon at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. Senior forward
Michaela Rakova highlighted the contest, earning her 12th double-double performance with 25 points and 23 rebounds in 47 minutes of action. It is her second-consecutive double double and the second time this season she has had 20-plus rebounds.
The Dons opened up play with a 6-0 run, but the Cougars quickly responded by going on a 9-2 spree to take the lead. The visitors would close out the first ahead 15-12, both teams shooting 33.3 percent from the field.
The two teams traded buckets in the second frame, staying neck and neck with each other. Even though USF outscored the Cougars in the second quarter, BYU had a one-point edge, 30-29, over the Dons by half. There were seven lead changes throughout the first half.
On hot shooting, BYU was able to create some distance and find their largest lead of the game in the third quarter, going ahead by nine with 1:42 left in the third. USF was able to keep it close with some last minute free throws, cutting the lead to four points as they headed into the final frame.
The Dons surged forward in the fourth, tying the game with a 6-0 run to start the final quarter. They would remain gridlocked the rest of the way, forcing two overtimes. In the final over time, USF scored nine points to the Cougars six to win 76-73.
ICYMI
WHAT'S GOODenbour
GAME NOTES
- Rakova earned her 12th double-double performance of the year, a leage high, with 25 points and 23 rebounds. It is her second 20-20 game on the year.
- Her 23 rebounds marks the fourth time in USF history that a player has gotten 23 rebounds in a single game. Mary Hile completed the feat on three occasions. The record for rebounds in a single game is 25.
- Anna Seilund and Shannon Powell added 21 and 18 points, respectively.
- Powell went 7-7 from the charity stripe.
- USF had 22 second chance points to BYU's seven.
- The Dons shot a season low 14.8 percent from three-point range.
- This marks the third consecutive win for the Dons. It is the first time this season they have won three games in a row.
- This is the Dons second double-overtime game of the year. They are 1-1 in such games.
- There were 10 ties and 12 score changes. The Dons led for 16:42, while the Cougars led for 25:41.
#Play4Kay #FT4Kay #Dons4Kay
The #Play4Kay free-throw challenge continues this through February. Please pledge to make a donation for every free throw the Dons make all throughout the month of February! Over three four contests in February, including BYU, the Dons have recorded 46 buckets from the charity stripe and raised $85.
Pledge now! Keep track of the free throws on the women's basketball team Twitter and join the conversation using the hashtags
#Play4Kay #FT4Kay #Dons4Kay.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Dons will hit the road, traveling across the bay to take on Saint Mary's on Thursday, followed by a contest in Los Angeles against Loyola Marymount.
