SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Following a successful 2023-24 campaign, finishing in a tie for third place in the conference standings, San Francisco's Freja Werth was named West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year, while Jasmine Gayles and Debora dos Santos earned All-Conference First Team honors, announced by the league Tuesday morning.
 
In her first season on the Hilltop, Werth established herself as a significant piece to the program's success, serving as the Dons' third-leading scorer at a career-high 9.7 points per game. Earning the start in all 29 games, Werth totaled 14 double-digit scoring performances, including posting a season-high 20 points against Columbia on December 28, knocking down six of her eight attempts from the three-point line in the process.
 
A strong rebounder, Werth ranked second on the team at 5.6 per game while posting two games with double-digit boards. Notably, she recorded 12 rebounds along with 13 points for her second-career double-double in a 75-70 win over Brown on January 1.
 
Werth's production increased when conference play began, finishing the 16-game schedule averaging 10.1 points per game, ranking 23rd in the WCC. A threat from distance, she shot 39.1 percent from the three-point line and knocked down two or more three-pointers in four of the final seven contests.
 
Overall, the transfer from UAlbany becomes just the third Don named WCC Newcomer of the Year since the award was reinstated after the 2003-04 season, following Dominque Carter (2004-05) and Ioanna Krimili (2020-21).
 
Earning a spot on an All-WCC Team for the first time in her career, Gayles led San Francisco in scoring from start to finish, averaging 16.8 points per game. The reigning 2023 WCC Sixth Woman of the Year stepped into a starting role this campaign, setting the tone with a 30-point performance at UC Santa Barbara in the season opener on November 7.
 
Making history on January 13, she became the second player in program history to score 40 points in a game, leading the Dons to an 81-68 come-from-behind victory at Pacific. Nearly breaking Teri Hunt's single-game record of 42 points set on January 31, 1987, Gayles shot 60 percent (nine-for-15) from the field in the win over the Tigers while knocking down a career-best 17 free throws.
 
Gayles was also named Credit Union 1 WCC Player of the Week two times, becoming one of three players this season to earn at least two weekly honors.
 
Another first-timer on an All-WCC Team and a one-time Credit Union 1 Player of the Week honoree, dos Santos put together a career-setting season in 2023-24. Dos Santos averaged 15.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, becoming the lone player in the conference to average a double-double. In 29 games, dos Santos recorded a league-high 16 double-doubles, which ranks tied for 12th nationally.
 
Posting career scoring and rebounding numbers throughout conference play, she most recently recorded 29 points at Saint Mary's on February 29 and set the WCC single-game high in rebounds with 18 rebounds at LMU on January 4.
 
In the final two regular season games, dos Santos averaged 27.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while adding four steals and three blocks. An efficient shooter throughout the final week of conference play, dos Santos was 62.5 percent from the field while connecting on 13 of her 16 free-throw attempts.
 
Leading the green and gold defensively throughout the season, dos Santos recorded 45 steals and 30 blocks.
 
The full 2023-24 West Coast Conference women's basketball awards can be viewed below:

2023-24 All-WCC Women's Basketball Major Awards
Player of the Year - Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
Freshman of the Year - Zeryhia Aokuso, Saint Mary's
Newcomer of the Year - Freja Werth, San Francisco
Defensive Player of the Year - Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
Sixth Woman of the Year - Maud Huijbens, Gonzaga
Coach of the Year - Lisa Fortier, Gonzaga
 
2023-24 All-WCC Woen's Basketball First Team

Name	Yr.	Pos.	School
Yvonne Ejim	Sr.	F	Gonzaga
Debora dos Santos	Jr.	F	San Francisco
Jasmine Gayles	Gr.	G	San Francisco
Tess Heal	So.	G	Santa Clara
Anaya James	Sr.	G	Pacific
Brynna Maxwell	Gr.	F	Gonzaga
Olivia Pollard	Jr.	F	Santa Clara
Emme Shearer	Sr.	G	Portland
Kayleigh Truong	Gr.	G	Gonzaga
Kaylynne Truong	Gr.	G	Gonzaga

 
2023-24 All-WCC Women's Basketball Second Team

Name	Yr.	Pos.	School
Zeryhia Aokuso	Fr.	G	Saint Mary's
Maisie Burnham	Sr.	G	Portland
Veronica Sheffey	Sr.	G	San Diego
Eliza Hollingsworth	Gr.	F	Gonzaga
Elizabeth Elliot	Sr.	F	Pacific

2023-24 All-WCC Women's Basketball Freshman Team

Name	Pos.	School
Zeryhia Aokuso	G	Saint Mary's
Dyani Ananiev	G	Portland
Maia Jones	G	Saint Mary's
Madison Naro	G	Santa Clara
Jorynn Ross	F	Pepperdine

 
2023-24 WCC Women's Basketball Honorable Mention Selections
Ali Bamberger, Saint Mary's; Cecilia Holmberg, Pacific; Alexis Mark, LMU; Jane Nwaba, Pepperdine
 
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.