SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco women's basketball team (8-9, 5-3 WCC) dropped a 74-58 West Coast Conference decision to Washington State (11-8, 6-2 WCC) Thursday evening at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Washington State held San Francisco without a field goal through the first four minutes of the first quarter, jumping out to a 10-1 advantage at the 6:04 mark.
• Marina Hernandez scored the Dons' first basket less than a minute later with a layup to trim the deficit to 10-3 at 5:41.
• The Cougars continued to expand on their double-digit advantage throughout the remainder of the opening quarter, pushing the lead to 17, 25-8, after the first 10 minutes of play.
• Despite Luana Leite knocking down two free throws at the start of the second quarter, Washington State used a 14-3 scoring run to extend its margin to 28, the largest of the game, 39-11, with 4:40 remaining in the period.
• Highlighted by Aya Kéita's four points, the Dons posted a 6-0 run, cutting the Cougars' lead to 22, 39-17, at 2:33.
• Following a Jenna Villa three-pointer, Angeliki Ziaka recorded back-to-back points and brought the Dons to within 21, 42-21, with 36 seconds left on the first-half clock.
• A late three-pointer from Villa pushed the Cougars' advantage back to 24, 45-21, at the halftime break.
• Coming out in the second half with urgency, Ziaka secured a steal in the open court and scored for San Francisco's first points of the third quarter, 45-23, at 9:42.
• Scoring four of the following six points, Ziaka brought the Dons to within 20, 47-27, at 8:38, with a mid-range jumper in the paint.
• Trailing by 22, 54-29, later in the third, Ziaka kickstarted an 8-2 scoring run to trim the deficit to 19 at 3:46. Freja Werth and Hernandez also scored during the run, with Hernandez knocking down her first three-pointer of the season.
• The two teams continued to trade baskets throughout the third quarter as Washington State held a 19-point advantage, 60-41, after 30 minutes of play.
• Following a strong start to the fourth quarter, San Francisco cut its deficit to 15, 64-49, following an Emma Trawally Porta hook shot midway through the period.
• Ziaka scored the Dons' last four points, including a layup with one second remaining as Washington State secured the 74-58 victory.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Ziaka led all scorers with 20 points, her second-career 20-point performance. She was also efficient from the floor, shooting 81.8 percent (nine-for-11) from the field and knocking down two three-pointers.
• Werth added 10 points on 50 percent (four-for-eight) shooting while grabbing three rebounds and connecting on both of her free-throw attempts.
• As a team, San Francisco outrebounded Washington State, 40-36, and forced the Cougars into 12 turnovers.

UP NEXT:
San Francisco returns to action at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, when it travels to take on Pacific at the Alex G. Spanos Center.

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:
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SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor – Coca-Cola – 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.