SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Beginning their three game home stand to start the second half of conference play, the USF Dons women's basketball team (15-7, 5-5) picked up an impressive 74-66 victory over the Santa Clara Broncos (13-10, 4-6) on Saturday afternoon at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

The Dons picked up their second win in a row due to another strong team game with four players scoring in double figures and a strong team commitment on the glass as they picked up their 10th victory on their home floor this season. Saturday's victory also marked the fourth consecutive win for USF over their South Bay rival. 

Kennedy Dickie led the way with her fifth double-double of the season as she scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for USF. Coming off the bench, Jasmine Gayles poured in 17 points of her own as they both led their team in scoring.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• USF got the scoring underway on Saturday as Jessica McDowell-White made a running lay up before Santa Clara rattled off five straight points for their only lead of the afternoon. Both teams traded baskets midway through the first quarter as the game was knotted at 16 before the Dons went on a run led by a put back from Loren Christie and a Gayles drive to the basket. Dickie knocked down a big corner three for the final USF bucket of the quarter as they led 26-18 after the first 10 minutes.
• Both offenses cooled off to start the second quarter as a Dickie paint jumper was the lone USF field goal of the first four minutes as USF was able to hold to a 28-23 in large part to their defense. After Santa Clara got their deficit down to three points, Christie knocked down a pair of free throws and Gayles drove to the basket for a lay up that put USF back up seven points. The Broncos scored a basket right before the half ended as the Dons went into the locker room leading 38-35.
• Coming out of the break, USF got the scoring started in the second half as Dickie put home a turn around jumper that put the Dons up 40-35. Santa Clara continued to fight keeping the Dons within arms length as Gayles connected on another three-point shot to put the Dons ahead 49-43. The Broncos hit a three late in the quarter to cut USF's lead down to 55-52 heading into the fourth.
• Tied starting the first few minutes of the quarter, USF was able to build some separation as Dickie knocked down a free throw and Ioanna Krimili cashed in a big three to push the Dons' lead to four as they wouldn't give up the lead again. McDowell-White and Krimili hit back-to-back huge threes that pushed the USF lead to nine as their defense came through late as they picked up the 74-66 victory on their home floor to get back to .500 in conference action. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Dickie had another big game for the Dons with the 17 points and 12 rebounds double-double as she was able to corral four offensive boards to go along with two assists, a block and a steal against the Broncos. 
• Gayles continued her torrid scoring trend off the bench by putting in 17 points as well as grabbing a rebound and coming away with a steal against Santa Clara.
• Rebounding after the Broncos worked to limit her production in the second half, Krimili scored 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go along with a trio of assists and came away with three steals as well on Saturday.
• Leading the offense and finding her shots, McDowell-White scored 11 points to go along with seven rebounds, three assists and a block against Santa Clara to help her team to victory. 

POST GAME WITH THE DONS:

• To view the highlights from today's 74-66 win over Santa Clara, please click here.
• To view the post game press conference with USF head women's basketball coach Molly Goodenbour, please click here.
• To view the post game press conference with Kennedy Dickie and Ioanna Krimili, please click here. 

UP NEXT:
The Dons now continue their home stand as they welcome the Portland Pilots (15-6, 9-1) to the Hilltop on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6:00 p.m. from War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. Portland had their way with USF in the first matchup between the two programs as they picked up the 77-46 victory in early January at the Chiles Center. 

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.