SAN FRANCISCO — An onslaught of unexpected and unfortunate injuries this season left the University of San Francisco women's basketball team extremely short-handed, both on the court and even in practices.
 
In step the male practice players.


 
In this week's spotlight on USF women's basketball's squad of practice players, featured in the latest episode of USF's cable television show "Behind the Mask," the USF women's basketball coaching staff talks about how important this group of young men has been to the program this season and throughout the first four years of head coach Molly Goodenbour's tenure.
 
The group of male practice players has helped challenge and push the Dons this season and in prior seasons, spending time at practices, watching film and learning opponents' tendencies to act as scout teams, running drills with the women's players, and more. And they do it all while also balancing their own schedules of classes, jobs, internships, extra-curricular activities, etc.
 
For all their efforts, the Dons saw a five-win improvement this season, despite only playing with seven players who were on the original 14-person roster at the start of the season. The Dons closed the regular season going 5-4 in the second half of West Coast Conference play and won three straight heading into the WCC Tournament.
 
Check local listings for your cable provider's station guide and additional air dates and times each month. Segments from the show, as well as past seasons of "Behind the Mask," can also be found on-demand on USF Athletics' YouTube channel.
 
To tune in to the show in the San Francisco Bay Area, NBC Sports California can typically be found on channel 698 for DirecTV customers, 438 on the Dish Network, 412-01 on Dish Hopper packages, 767 on U-Verse and 41 on most Comcast packages. NBC Sports Bay Area can be generally be accessed at channel 40 on Comcast, 41 on the Dish Network, 696 for DirecTV subscribers, and at 770 on U-Verse.