PORTLAND, Ore. – Returning to action following a close loss on Thursday, the USF Dons women's basketball team (12-5, 2-3) weren't able to find the right recipe on Saturday as they fell to the Portland Pilots (12-5, 6-0) by a 77-46 score at the Chiles Center.
 
It wasn't the Dons day in the Pacific Northwest as Portland built a double-digit lead in the second quarter and didn't look back the rest of the game. Ioanna Krimili and Loren Christie led the way for USF against the Pilots as each scored nine points to lead the way for the Dons on Saturday.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• It was a back-and-forth affair from the start as the Dons got on the board on an Abby Rathbun lay up and added a couple buckets later off jump shots from Kennedy Dickie and Krimili as the Pilots held an 11-6 lead at the first timeout. Krimili continued her strong scoring the remainder of the quarter as she earned an and-one opportunity that brought USF's deficit down to one before a couple of Portland buckets gave them a 17-13 lead after the first quarter. 
• The Dons came out aggressive in the second quarter as back-to-back buckets from Krimili and Dickie made consecutive shots to get them within two points while Dickie went on to make a couple of free throws the evened the score at 19 apiece. Portland was able to catch fire later in the quarter as they made three three-point shots in a row that gave them a 36-23 lead at halftime.
• Looking to cut into their deficit, USF got off to a strong start following a Jessica McDowell-White made jump shot that cut the lead down to 11. Portland then went on a run of their own to grow their lead to 19 before the Dons went on a run of their own as free throws from Malia Latu, Amy Baum and Kia Vaalavirta knocked down free throws that got USF within 12 points. The Pilots scored one more bucket late in the quarter as they led 53-36 heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
• Portland went on to build their lead throughout the fourth quarter as they picked up the 77-46 victory on their home floor. 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Scoring well early and creating opportunities for herself and her teammates, Krimili poured in nine points for the Dons on 4-of-9 shooting while also grabbing three rebounds and coming up with a steal against the Pilots.
• Coming off the bench on Saturday, Loren Christie scored nine points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds against Portland. 

 POST GAME WITH THE DONS:

• USF head women's basketball coach Molly Goodenbour: "Tough game today. Portland played well and got us out of our offensive rhythm and then we struggled to guard well in the half court. We spent a lot of energy versus Gonzaga and then had to bounce back and play against a very aggressive Portland team and they took it to us. We will go back and refocus and try to be better on Thursday."

UP NEXT:
The Dons now return home to War Memorial at the Sobrato Center as they welcome the Pacific Tigers to the Hilltop on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. USF swept the Tigers last season, with one of their most impressive games of the year coming at home last January with the Dons picking up the 88-71 victory as Krimili and Kennedy Dickie combined for 49 total points against UOP. 

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.