The University of San Francisco women's basketball team looks to avenge an earlier road loss when the Pacific Tigers come to War Memorial at the Sobrato Center on Saturday.  The Dons and Tigers will tip off at 2:00 p.m. and will be streamed on the WCC Network. George Devine will have the call live from inside the gym.   
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: February 6 – 2:00 p.m.
Opponent: Pacific Tigers (6-7, 4-6 WCC)
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Stream:  WCC Network
Audio:  None
Talent: George Devine
Live Stats: USFDons.com

USF AT A GLANCE
LAST TIME OUT
The Dons earned a rare season sweep against the Gaels when they defeated Saint Mary's 78-51.  A 32-point second quarter was the difference as USF coasted to their fifth-straight win and 10th overall. The Dons were led by Ioanna Krimili who notched her ninth 20-point game of the season.
 
UNSUNG HERO
During the Dons' season-best five-game winning-streak, one player who has gone under the radar is center Lucija Kostic.  During the Dons' hot-stretch she is averaging 8.0 rebounds per game and 6.4 assists per contest.  Against the Gaels, she finished with 11 rebounds and six assists.  The Dons are 3-0 this year when she finishes in double-digits in rebounds.
 
A WIN WOULD MEAN...
• The Dons would improve to 11-8 on the season
• Improve the Dons to 5-3 at home. 
• Improve to 25-21 against Pacific.
• Improve the Dons to 7-6 in WCC play, putting them over .500 in conference for the first time since the Dons were 8-8 on Feb. 17, 2018.
• Run the Dons conference winning streak to six games the longest streak since: 2/15/17 - 2/25/17
 
CLIMBING THE NET
The Dons have risen drastically in the all-important NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET rankings).  Prior to the Dons current winning-streak the Dons were ranked 200th in the NET rankings, second to last in the WCC. Following Thursday's win over Saint Mary's the Dons have climbed to 123.  USF is currently fourth in the WCC, trailing Gonzaga (18), BYU (53), and Pacific (103) in the NET rankings.
 
SWEEPING THE GAELS
The Dons 78-51 win over Saint Mary's gave the Dons a rare season sweep over their Bay Area rival.  The last time the Dons swept SMC came in the 1995-96 season.  That year the Dons went 24-8 (12-2 WCC) and were crowned WCC champions en route to a Sweet-16 appearance.
 
DONS FROM DISTANCE
The Dons rank 23rd in the nation (1st in the WCC) in 3-point field goal attempts with 393.  They are 24th in the nation in made threes with 132 and 69th in the nation in 3-point field goals per contest, averaging 7.3 a game.  Ioanna Krimili is second in the nation in attempts (141), makes (64), she's fifth in threes per game (3.56), and 23rd in 3-point field goal percentage (45.4%).
 
WE'RE GOING STREAKING
USF has put up some impressive numbers during the five-game winning streak.  During the stretch, that dates back to Jan. 9 against Saint Mary's, the Dons are averaging 72.2 points per game while holding their opponents to 56.6 points (+15.6 scoring margin).  The Dons are outshooting their opponent's 48.2 percent from the field compared to 38.5 percent and even better from 3-point range (42.6 - 27.0).  The only area the Dons are markedly better is rebounding.  The Dons are -2.0 in rebound margin.

SCOUTING REPORT:  PACIFIC TIGERS
The Pacific Tigers come to the Hilltop with a 6≠7 overall record.  In the WCC, the Tigers are 4≠6, on the road this year they are 3≠2.  As a team, they are averaging 69.8 points per game and shooting 41.1 percent from the field. Their opponents are averaging 75.2 points per contest and shooting 41.9 percent from the field.  Valeria Higgins is the central figure of the Tigers. She leads the team in nearly every statistical category including: points (16.3), rebounds (8.7), field goal percentage (44.2) and steals (46).
 
SERIES VS. THE TIGERS
Saturday marks the 46th time the Dons and Tigers have squared off.  The series dates back to Dec. 9, 1975 with USF winning on the road 36≠23. Since Pacific joined the WCC in the 2013-14 season, the Tigers are 9≠7 all-time against the Gaels.  Pacific has won four of the last five including the matchup earlier in the year when Pacific defeated the Dos 86≠63 in Stockton.