SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team (11-13, 7-4) concludes its homestand when it hosts Santa Clara (19-7, 7-4) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
GAME 25 DETAILS:
Date: February 15, 2024
Time: 6 p.m.
Opponent: Santa Clara
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 enters the seventh week of conference play on a two-game winning streak after posting wins over Saint Mary's on Thursday, Feb. 8, and Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 10. The Dons showed resiliency in back-to-back home games, squeaking past the Gaels last Thursday, 58-54, before holding on for a 79-72 win over the Tigers.
• In the win over Pacific, all five starters reached double figures, marking the first time since the 2020-21 season that the Dons had five players score double-digit points in a game. Cami Fulcher led the team with 15 points, reaching double figures for the first time in 19 games. Luana Leite (14 points), Debora dos Santos (14 points), Jasmine Gayles (13 points), and Freja Werth (12 points) also helped propel the Dons offensively in the win over the Tigers.
• Gayles has led the Dons and ranks third in the WCC in scoring this season, averaging 17.6 points per game through 24 contests. Gayles has posted 15 straight double-digit scoring performances while averaging 20.2 points per game during conference play.
• Dos Santos continues to lead the Dons in rebounding, averaging 10.5 per game. In the win over Saint Mary's, dos Santos recorded 13 boards, the 15th time she has surpassed double-digit rebounds in a game. A valuable scorer, dos Santos ranks second on the team at 14.5 points per game while leading the green and gold defensively with 24 blocks and 37 steals.
• As a team, San Francisco has been successful at home in recent contests, winning four of its last six games on the Hilltop. In 12 home contests this season, the Dons have posted a 7-5 record while averaging 74.9 points per game in those seven victories.
• In 11 league games, San Francisco ranks fourth in the WCC in scoring offense (67.5 points per game) and scoring defense (62.5 points per game). A strong perimeter defensive team, the Dons have held opponents to 27.3 percent from the three-point line during WCC play. 

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS:

• Santa Clara continues to impress this season as it sits in a tie with San Francisco for third place in the league standings with a 7-4 record. Last week, The Broncos posted two home wins over San Diego and Saint Mary's, defeating the Toreros 83-57 on Thursday, Feb. 8, before dismantling the Gaels 70-58 on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Leavey Center.
• Tess Heal led the Broncos offensively in the win over the Toreros last Thursday, scoring 29 points, one shy of her season-high, on 61.1 percent shooting. Her 29-point performance marked the ninth time this season that she recorded 20 or more points in a single game.
• Heal continues to lead the team and ranks second in the WCC in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game. The standout sophomore guard has reached double figures in all 26 games played this season, while scoring a season-high 30 points in an 80-77 win over Pacific on Thursday, Jan. 4.
• Olivia Pollerd ranks second in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game while being a lethal weapon from the three-point line. Pollerd leads the Broncos and the WCC in three-point field goal percentage, shooting at a 46.7 percent clip.
• As a team, Santa Clara ranks first in the conference and second nationally in free-throw percentage at 81.9 percent. The Broncos have six players averaging over 80 percent from the charity stripe, with Ashley Hiraki leading the team at 91.3 percent. Santa Clara also posts league highs in scoring defense (58.2 points per game) and fouls per game (14.3).

SERIES HISTORY:
Saturday's game marks the 106th meeting between the two programs since the first-ever meeting during the 1976-77 season, where Santa Clara holds a 58-47 edge. The Broncos broke the Dons' four-game winning streak in the all-time series earlier during conference play, earning a 72-59 win in the South Bay on Saturday, Jan. 20.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco women'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 – Planet Orange - 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.