SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team completed its revenge tour on Saturday following a thrilling 86-72 win over visiting BYU at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. The Dons finished the regular winning nine of their last 10 contests, including a 4-1 record against teams that beat them in the first half of WCC play.
 
"I thought it was a great win for USF," said head coach Molly Goodenbour. "I think the girls were obviously really excited to play because we are a different team than the last time we played them in December. We really looking forward to the challenge of playing teams that were ranked higher than us and testing ourselves against the best teams in the league. To come out and get a good win on our home court against these guys makes me really happy for our team."
 
Outside of the opening four minutes, the Dons set the tempo.  BYU's largest and only lead came at the 4:39 mark in the first period when they led by four, 11-7, following a pair of free throws by Shaylee Gonzalez.
 
USF (14-9, 10-7 WCC) led for over 33 minutes and seemingly had an answer for every basket by the Cougars. Ioanna Krimili led all scorers with 27 points going 6-for-12 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.  She was also a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stipe.  Amalie Langer and Lucie Hoskova added 16 each, Marta Galic had 15.  All four provided the Dons with crucial baskets.
 
BYU (17-4, 13-3 WCC) shot 41.5 percent for the day, they were just 4-for-21 from 3-point range.  The Cougars had three players in double figures led by Shaylee Gonzalez' 25 points.  Paisley Harding had 17 and Maria Albiero had 14. Gustin had one point and a game-high 13 rebounds for BYU.
 
In the first quarter the Dons struck first thanks to a pair of free throws by Krimili.  However, USF opened the game 1-for-8 from the field and BYU took advantage going up 11-7 early.  Out of the media timeout, Krimili got hot, and the Dons closed out the quarter on an 11-0 run. A triple at the 3:08 mark brough the Dons within one, 11-10.  Next possession, Galic hit a jumper and the Dons had the lead, 13-11, a lead they would not relinquish.
 
USF went into the locker room leading 39-28.  Out of the break, the Cougars went on a 7-0 run in the middle of the third that cut the Dons lead to four, 48-44. Galic put an end to the run with a layup – two of her eight points in the period.  Galic closed out the quarter with an amazing tip in as the game clock expired while getting fouled, helping seize the momentum going into the fourth.
 
With a 58-50 lead entering the fourth quarter, Langer, Hoskova, and Krimili took over.  The trio combined to score 22 of the Dons' 28 points in the fourth and helped build USF's lead to a game-high 16 points down the stretch. 
 
Had it not been for the work on the glass by BYU the game could have been much more lopsided. The Cougars outrebounded the Dons 32-30.  13 of those rebounds game on the offensive glass that led to 15 second chance points for BYU. Gonzalez was the catalyst for that, all eight of her rebounds game on the offensive side of the ball.
 
Lucija Kostic was the unsung hero for the Dons on the afternoon.  She finished with six rebounds, five assists, six points and three steals.
 
For the contest, USF shot a blistering 56.9 percent from the field going 29-for-51.  From 3-point range the dons were 8-for-17.  At the line, USF was 20-for-24 – including a perfect 11-for-11 in the fourth quarter.
 
"They are such a fun group of kids to be around," said Goodenbour. "They've developed so much over the last two months.  I'm really proud of them, they've truly taken ownership of their team.  Now we are looking forward to playing in the WCC Tournament."
 
The Dons will await to find their seed in the WCC Tournament which will be announced by the West Coast Conference at 9:00 p.m. PT on Sunday.