Dec. 31, 2013
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of San Diego women's basketball team continues to receive votes in both the Associated Press and USATODAY top-25 polls, marking the fifth consecutive week that USD is receiving votes in the top-25 polls. USD has received 33 votes in the Associate Press poll, just two spots out of the top-25, and in the USAToday poll the have received 23 votes, just three spots away from the top-25.
San Diego has surpassed any other USD women's basketball team in the history of the program by starting off 13-0, and is one of seven undefeated schools left in Division I, and the West Coast Conference's lone undefeated team. San Diego has defeated three post-season teams from a year ago along the way in Northern Colorado, Idaho and San Diego State. USD has also knocked off No. 24 Arizona State, who just jumped into the top-25 this week. USD currently stands as ASU's lone loss on the season, and the Sun Devils have knocked off the likes of No. 11 North Carolina, and No. 20 Syracuse.
USD posted a pair of wins over Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount this past week to open up league play. In Friday's WCC opener, USD picked up a 71-43 win over Pepperdine. In this game, Felicia Wijenberg scored a career-high 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field, while pulling down a career-high 14 rebounds to post her first double-double of the season. Amy Kame was the second Torero in double figures, as the senior guard scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, while pulling down seven rebounds. Brooke Jelniker recorded a carer-high 11 rebounds, while Sophia Ederaine had eight points and Malina Hood added in seven points. As a team, USD shot 45.6% from the field, and out rebounded the Waves 48-39.
Then in Monday's 86-63 win over LMU, Hood scored a career-high 27 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, including hitting on five three-pointers, while also recording three rebounds, and one assist. Alysse Barlow tied her career-high with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, while recording two rebounds, dishing out two assists and recording one steal. The final Torero in double figures was Wijenberg, who had 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field, and she fell just one rebound shy of a double-double with nine total boards. Jelniker and Kame both added in nine points, while Ederaine led all payers with 12 rebounds and she had a season-high four blocks. As a team, USD shot 45.0% from the field and held a decisive 52-36 advantage on the boards.
San Diego returns to action on Thursday, as they host Saint Mary's College in a huge match-up between a pair of 2-0 WCC teams, plus the Gaels are coming off a upset win over No. 21 Gonzaga, and now the Gaels are also receiving votes in the top-25. SMC enters the game with an impressive 12-1 overall overall.
