SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Backed by an efficient shooting performance, the University of San Francisco defeated Utah Valley (16-15) 80-50 in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) Thursday evening at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• After Utah Valley scored the game's opening basket, San Francisco scored eight straight points to gain an 8-2 advantage at the 6:57 mark of the first quarter. Three players scored during the Dons' early scoring run, with Candy Edokpaigbe pacing the team with four points.
• Despite Utah Valley trimming into its deficit in the final five minutes of the opening quarter, the green and gold held a 15-11 lead heading into the second quarter.
• San Francisco continued to grow its lead in the second period, pushing the margin to double-digits, 26-15, at 5:05. The Dons used an 11-4 scoring run to build their advantage, highlighted by Aina Cargol draining a long-range shot.
• Leading, 33-20, the Dons scored six of the final eight points, with Mara Neira knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to give the green and gold a commanding 39-22 halftime lead.
• San Francisco preserved its halftime advantage before going on a 7-0 scoring run, capped off by two layups from Michelle Ugwah, to expand the lead further to 53-31 with 3:27 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the period, the Wolverines had cut into that lead, but the Dons still entered the fourth quarter with a 57-38 edge.
• The lead kept widening at the start of the fourth quarter, expanding to 71-50 at the 3:05 mark.
• A 9-0 scoring run from the green and gold in the final minutes of the contest pushed the margin to 30, 80-50, a score which would hold for the rest of the game, with Olivia Williams knocking down the final basket with 25 seconds remaining. 

• Edokpaigbe paced San Francisco offensively, scoring a game-high 20 points on 80 percent (eight-for-10) shooting. She also connected on her lone three-point attempt, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out three assists.
• In 30 minutes of action, Neira matched a season-high in three-pointers, knocking down five of her 11 attempts from distance.
• Leading the second unit, Ugwah scored nine of the Dons' 28 bench points while shooting 50 percent (three-for-six) from the field and recorded three boards in 17 minutes.
• As a team, San Francisco shot 56.9 percent from the field, the second-highest shooting percentage in a game this season. The green and gold also connected on 50 percent of its attempts from the three-point line, the first time the teams have shot 50 percent or better from distance this season.

• To view the full highlights of tonight's contest, please click here.
• To view the full postgame interview with head coach Molly Goodenbour, please click here.
• To view the full postgame interview with Mara Neira and Candy Edokpaigbe, please click here.

UP NEXT:
San Francisco continues its season in Bozeman, Mont., when it takes on Montana State at 1:00 p.m. PT/2:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, Mar. 22, in the second round of the WNIT at Brick Breedman Fieldhouse.
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 US:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor – ABM –  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.

*This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive*