THE RUNDOWN
SAN FRANCISCO – In front of a raucous crowd on senior night, the University of San Francisco women's basketball team earned a season sweep over Pacific with a gusty 80-78 victory Thursday night at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. For the first time this year, all five starts scored in double digits for the Dons, highlighted by the three seniors on the roster. 
 
The Tigers got the jump on the Dons, finding an early 21-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. The visitors beefed up their lead, outscoring USF 24-17 in the second frame thanks to hot shooting. Pacific shot 58.8 percent from the field and 80.0 percent from three-point range. The squad from Stockton, Calif. had a 45-34 advantage as the two teams headed into the locker room.
 
An 8-2 run from the Dons in the third helped to pull within six points and eventually trim the lead to just four points at the end of the quarter, 63-59. In the frame, USF recorded 25 points to UOP's 18, knocking down 9-for-15 shots from the field. 

The third-quarter momentum transferred to the final frame as the Dons went on a 7-2 run, cutting the lead to just one point. USF stepped on the gas, pouring on eight unanswered points to take their first lead since the first quarter. Although the Tigers would tie it up, 78-78, with twenty-two seconds left, Kalyn Simon was sent to the line to finish off the contest. On senior night and infront of her entire family, the four-year Don knocked down both shots to seal the deal, 80-78.


ICYMI

THATS A WRAP! pic.twitter.com/ttNlS3e3yi

— USF Women's Basketball (@USFDonsWBB) February 23, 2018

WHAT'S GOODenbour
"Really happy for the three seniors that they got to end their careers with a home court win. I didn't think we played well in first half, but thought we regrouped and came out with much more energy and competitiveness in second half.

We need it to be a group effort and I thought tonight was great example of us working together to find a way to get a win. 

Shannon [Powell] is so valuable to us and capable of impacting the game with her hustle plays —she came through with some of those plays in fourth quarter."

GAME NOTES

• For the first time in the season, all five starters scored in double-digit figures. They were highlighted by the three seniors scoring 10-plus points on their senior night. 
• Seniors Michaela Rakova and Anna Seilund led with 22 points a piece. 
• The league leader in double-doubles, Rakova earned her 13th with 22 points and 12 boards on her statline. She also had four assists and one steal. 
• Seilund dished out a game-high nine assists. 
• Shannon Powell added 15 points, 11 in the fourth alone to help push the Dons past the Tigers. 
• Moa Lundqvist recorded 11 points, the first time she has scored 10-plus points in WCC play. 
• Senior Simon added 10 points, including a career-high five 3-pointers (5-for-6). 
• The Dons scored 42 points in the paint to Pacific's 24. 
• UOP's largest lead was 14 in the second quarter. USF led for a total of 2:18 in the game, trailing for 36:32. 
• USF outscored Pacific 46-33 in the second half. 
• This marks the Dons third sweep of the season against WCC oppponents.  

WHAT'S NEXT
The Dons look to finish out the season strong against contender San Diego. USF is 30-39 all-time against USF and lost the meeting earlier this season, 54-60. After the match with the Toreros, It's tournament time. The Dons will travel to the WCC Championship Tournament in Las Vegas next Wednesday. Their game times and opponents have not yet been announced. Stay tuned on usfdons.com for more information to follow.