SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team (3-8) returns to the Hilltop to close out non-conference play when it faces off against Columbia (7-4) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28 and Brown (8-3) at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 1, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
GAME 12 DETAILS:
Date: December 28, 2023
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: Columbia
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
GAME 13 DETAILS:
Date: January 1, 2024
Time: 1 p.m.
Opponent: Brown
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• San Francisco is coming off its final non-conference road game last week, narrowly falling to Long Beach State, 81-79, after erasing a 19-point second-half deficit.
• Jasmine Gayles finished the contest with a game-high 21 points, scoring 20 or more points in a game for the third time this season. Gayles continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game while shooting 31.5 percent from the field.
• Debora dos Santos continues to be dominant in the interior after posting her third straight double-double, scoring 13 points and collecting 15 rebounds against the Beach. In 11 games this season, dos Santos is averaging a double-double with 12.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Dos Santos ranks among the nation's best in multiple statistical categories this season, including 19th in rebounds per game (10.2), 32nd in total rebounds (112), and 18th in double-doubles (six).
• Reaching double figures for the third consecutive game, Luana Leite scored 18 points on 41.1 percent (seven-for-17) shooting, boosting her scoring average to 8.9 points per game, ranking third on the team. In the last three games, Leite has also been successful from the free-throw line, shooting 80 percent (16-for-20) from the charity stripe against Northern Arizona, Portland State, and Long Beach State.
• As a team, San Francisco ranks second in the WCC and 96th nationally in free throws made per game with 13.3 while being second in the WCC in free throw attempts per game at 18.9. The Dons have been successful on the boards this season, ranking second in the conference in rebounds per game (39.8), third in offensive rebounds per game (12.8), and first in defensive rebounds per game (27).

SCOUTING THE LIONS:

• Columbia enters Thursday's contest on the Hilltop with a 7-4 record and are currently on a five-game winning streak after defeating Northeastern, Providence, Villanova, Memphis, and Wagner.
• Through the non-conference schedule, the Lions have earned victories over three Power 6 teams while only dropping contests to Duke, Florida, and Georgia by a combined 23 points.
• Abbey Hsu has guided the Lions in scoring and rebounding this season, averaging 21.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game to lead the squad. Hsu has scored 20+ points and collected five or more rebounds in seven of the team's 11 games.
• Kitty Henderson and Cecelia Collins are the team's second and third leading scorers, averaging 12.7 and 11.4 points per game, respectively.

SCOUTING THE BEARS:

• Brown currently sits in a tie with Princeton for first place in the Ivy League standings with an 8-3 record. Before the Bears travel to the Bay to open the New Year, the team's six-game winning streak will be tested against WCC foe San Diego on December 30.
• As a team, Brown ranks second in the conference in scoring defense and first in field-goal percentage defense. The Bears hold their opponents to just 55.4 points per game on 37.7 percent shooting.
• Offensively, Brown has two players averaging double figures with Kyla Jones leading the team at 16.6 points per game. Ranking third in the Ivy League in scoring, Jones has produced multiple high end scoring performances including posting 34 points in the win over Monmouth on November 26.
• Grace Arnolie is scoring 12 points per game for the Bears while shooting 37 percent from the field. 

SERIES HISTORY:
San Francisco is undefeated against both Ivy League opponents, as it holds a 5-0 record over Columbia and a 1-0 record against Brown. The last time the Dons faced off against the Lions was on November 14, 2014 when they earned a narrow 7-65 win on the Hilltop. In the only meeting against Brown, the green and gold defeated the Bears, 87-61 during the 1982-83 season.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsWBB on Twitter, @USFDonsWBB on Instagram and @USFDonsWBB on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
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.