Box Score SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Competing against their second Power 5 opponent in as many weeks, the USF Dons women's basketball team (2-2) weren't able to get going at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center on Saturday afternoon as they come up short against the USC Trojans (4-0) by a 74-48 final score.
The Dons hung tough with the talented and athletic Trojans for most of the first half as both
Kennedy Dickie and
Jasmine Gayles were each able to score in double figures before halftime. USC was able to take advantage of their experience and length late in the second half as they were able to pull away before USF put together a strong fourth quarter to cut into their deficit on Saturday.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- USF was able to get off to a fast start on their home floor as they scored the first two baskets of Saturday's contest courtesy of Dickie and Kia Vaalavirta. The Trojans responded with a 9-0 run of their own before the Dons battled back to make it closer later in the first quarter thanks in part to seven quick points from Gayles who provided a spark off the bench as USF trailed 17-15 at the end of the first quarter.
- The Dons and Trojans went back and forth trading baskets to open the second quarter as each team displayed strong shot making before USC was able to use their size and speed to build some separation. Following a couple of tough buckets from Ioanna Krimili late in the quarter, the Dons headed into the break trailing 43-30.
- USC was able to build upon their lead throughout the third quarter as the Dons put up a strong effort but weren't able to get many shot attempts to fall their way. Coming off the bench and playing in her third collegiate game, Marina Hernandez was able to score the first field goal of her USF career as the Trojans led 66-38 after three quarters.
- Giving different players a chance to play late in the game, the Dons' bench played hard and made things difficult for the Trojans in the final 10 minutes as USF held the potent USC offense to only eight points in the quarter. Cami Fulcher and Malia Latu each played the entire fourth quarter as the pair were able to score their first points of the season as the Trojans picked up the 74-48 victory on Saturday afternoon.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
- Dickie continued her tremendous start to the season by scoring 15 points on an efficient 6-of-9 from the field to go along with four rebounds and two assists for USF.
- Coming off the bench looking to score, Gayles put together an 11 point, three rebounds and one steal effort against USC while shooting 4-for-7 from the field and knocking down both three point shots she attempted.
- Setting a new career high in minutes played, Fulcher did a little bit of everything against USC as she scored three points, grabbed a pair of rebounds and dished out an assist for USF on Saturday.
POST GAME WITH THE DONS:
- To view USF head women's basketball coach Molly Goodenbour's post game press conference, please click here.
- To view the highlights from Saturday afternoon's game, please click here.
UP NEXT:
The Dons will be back home this Monday at 11:00 a.m. as they host the Penn Quakers (1-3) from War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. Monday morning's game will be the first time each program has faced each other.
TICKETS AND MERCHANDISE:
Single-game tickets for West Coast Conference basketball games are currently on sale at
www.usfdons.com/tickets.
Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at
www.usfdons.com/shop.
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF women's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsWBB on Twitter, @USFDonsWBB on Instagram and @USFDonsWBB on Facebook.
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Provident Credit Union - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.
