Dec. 6, 2013
Complete Release in PDF Format 
TIP OFF: The University of San Diego women's basketball team (8-0) will look to remain perfect on the season, as they return home on Sunday to take on Seattle University in a 2 p.m. non-conference game at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
LAST TIME OUT: Behind the hot shooting of sophomore guard Malina Hood, the University of San Diego women's basketball team cruised its way to a 65-42 win over Cal State Fullerton Wednesday evening in a non-conference game at Titan Gym. With the win, the Toreros improve to a program-best start of the season at 8-0, and they have now won seven consecutive contests against Fullerton. With the loss, the Titans fall to 1-6 overall. Hood led all scorers with a career-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, including hitting five 3-pointers. The second of three USD players in double figures was Amy Kame, who had 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field, and Felicia Wijenberg scored 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, while pulling down six rebounds. As a team, USD shot 48.1% from the field, and out rebounded the Titans 32-29. In the first half, USD came out on a fire, as after the Titans scored the first basket of the game, a Wijenberg lay-up sparked a 9-0 Torero run to give USD all the momentum, and a 9-2 lead with 15:40 to go. The Toreros would continue to push forward, and a Hood 3-pointer with 10:20 to go, gave the Toreros their first double-digit lead of the game at 19-8. San Diego didn't let up as they held the Titans to two baskets over the next seven minutes of action, meanwhile going on an 11-4 run, grabbing a 30-13 lead with 3:59 to go. San Diego then went on to build up a 21-point halftime lead at 42-21, thanks to Hood's fifth 3-pointer of the half with four seconds left. In the second half, it was more of an even battle, as the Toreros outscored the Titans 23-21, while shooting 45.5% from the field, and holding the Titans to just 5-of-22 (22.7%) from the field for the frame.
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS: Seattle University enters the game with an overall record of 3-5 after dropping a heartbreaking 105-100 decision to Oregon this past Wednesday. The Toreros lead the all-time series at 2-0, with the last meeting coming on Nov. 19, 2011, a 82-65 USD win in Seattle. The Redhawks offense is paced by senior forward Kacie Sowell, who is scoring 15.0 ppg and pulling down 10.1 rebounds-per-game. Two other starters are averaging double figures as well in Taelor Ross (11.4 ppg) and Ashley Ward (11.3 ppg).
LAST TIME VS. SEATTLE: Morgan Woodrow's career-high 24 points paced the University of San Diego women's basketball team to a 82-65 win over Seattle University on Nov. 19, 2011 in a non-conference game at Key Arena. Woodrow scored her game-high 24 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field, and she was a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. Dominique Conners was the second of three Toreros in double figures, as she recorded 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the floor and Amy Kame scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field. As a team, USD shot .458 from the field and out rebounded the Redhawks 41-31.
RECEIVING VOTES: The University of San Diego women's basketball team continues to reach uncharted waters for the program, as they have received votes in the top-25 for the first time in program history. USD has received votes in the Associated Press top-25 poll after starting out the season 8-0. San Diego has surpassed any other USD women's basketball team in the history of the program by starting off 8-0. 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 PAC-12 member Arizona State, who is also receiving votes in the top-25 this week. USD currently stands as ASU's lone loss on the season, and the Sun Devils just knocked off No. 11 North Carolina this past week.
A LOOK AHEAD: San Diego will hit the road next week, as they head up to Long Beach to take on Long Beach State in a 7 p.m. non-conference game at the Pyramid on Friday.
WE LOVE OUR HOOD: Sophomore guard Malina Hood continues to have a break-out sophomore season. Hood scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, including hitting five three-pointers. This is Hood's fifth double-digit performance of the season, and she is now averaging 11.0 ppg, while leading the team with 14 three-pointers made on the season.
ABOUT THE RECORD: San Diego is 8-0 overall, marking the best start in program history. The Toreros are off the third best start for any sport at USD in the Division I era, only trailing the 2011 women's volleyball tram that went 13-0 to start the season, and the 2002 USD baseball team that opened up 10-0.
WELCOME BACK K-MAC: USD junior forward Katelyn McDaniel helped lead USD to a 3-0 record this past week, as she paced the team's offense, as she scored an average of 16.0 ppg, while shooting .621 from the field, and she averaged 8.3 rebounds-per-game. She began the week with an eight point and four rebound performance in a win over Idaho. She then recorded her first double-double of the season, with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while shooting .583 from the field in a win over Hope International. McDaniel then followed that up with a second consecutive double-double, scoring a career-high 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, while pulling down 10 rebounds in a win over Weber State.
RECORD WATCH: Senior guard Amy Kame became just the 16th player in program history to reach the 1,000 career point mark, when she scored 11 points in USD's 61-63 win over Arizona State on Nov. 13, 2013. Kame has since moved her career total to 1,077. Kame can now continue her assault on breaking into the all-time top-10 scorers list at USD. She is now just 73 points away from tying Tiara Harris (2002-06) for 10th all-time.
TOREROS TABBED TO FINISH SECOND IN PRESEASON POLL: The University of San Diego women's basketball team, who received one first place vote, was tabbed to finish second in the West Coast Conference, according to a poll of the league's coaches. Gonzaga, the defending WCC champion, was picked to finish first, while Saint Mary's was picked to finish third and BYU fourth. WCC newcomer Pacific was picked to finish fifth, with Loyola Marymount picked sixth. Portland, San Francisco, and Santa Clara were tied for seventh and Pepperdine was picked to finish 10th, respectfully.
Maya Hood TO REDSHIRT SEASON: Maya Hood, a sophomore guard for the USD women's basketball team, will redshirt during the 2013-14 season because she is expecting a baby in early November. Hood will return to action for USD beginning with the 2014-15 season, and will have three years of eligibility left. Hood, a 5-10 guard from San Diego, was the WCC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, in addition to being named All-WCC honorable mention. Hood managed to crack into the USD starting line-up just 10 games into the season, and remained in the starting line-up the rest of the way. Hood was USD's second leading scorer at 10.3 points-per-game, while leading the team in shooting at 54.3 percent from the field. Hood scored in double figures in 18 of the 32 games she played in, with a career-high of 21 coming in a win against Loyola Marymount on February 14, 2013. She also managed to record a pair of double-doubles this past season in scoring and rebounding.
A PAIR OF TOREROS SELECTED TO THE PRESEASON ALL-WCC TEAM: The Toreros had two players named to the preseason All-WCC team in the form of senior guard Amy Kame and sophomore guard Maya Hood.
- Kame, a 6-0 junior guard from Grand Junction, Colo., paced the team's scoring effort last season with an average of 15.1 ppg, while shooting 40.2 percent from the field, en route to a first-team All-WCC distinction. Kame was named the WCC Player of the Month for November, and took home one WCC Player of the Week award this past season. Kame scored 20 or more points in seven games last season, and scored in double figures in all but seven of the 32 games she has played in.
- Hood, a 5-10 guard from San Diego, was tabbed the WCC Newcomer of the Year after an impressive freshman campaign in which she was the team's second leading scorer with 10.3 ppg, while leading the team in field goal percentage at 54.3 percent. Hood was named the WCC Player of the Week once this past year and managed to score in double figures in 18 of the 31 games she played in. Hood quickly went from bench player to starter just 10 games into the season. Hood will be redshirting this season, and will return next season with three years of eligibility left.
GAMETRACKER AVAILABLE: All San Diego women's basketball home and select road games can be followed live via Gametracker on the Toreros athletic web site at www.usdtoreros.com. Gametracker is a service of CBS College Sports, the official web provider for San Diego athletics, and is a real time update of the action.
CAN YOU SEE ME?: All USD home games, as well as select road games, will be streamed live via video on the athletics department website. Fans can watch all the action live from the comfort of their home by logging onto usdtoreros.com. Former USD basketball standout Paula Bott provides all the live play-by-play this season. This service a free of charge for all who wish to watch the broadcast.
MEET THE COACH: Head coach Cindy Fisher is entering her ninth season at the helm of the Toreros program. She was named the program's third head coach on April 19, 2005. Last season, Fisher managed to do something no other coach in USD history could, she posted a second consecutive 20-win season, as USD advanced to the second roud of the WNIT, and posted a 22-10 overall record. The 2011-12 season was a historical one for the Toreros, as it is now the greatest season in program history. Under Fisher's tutelage, the Toreros soared to new heights, and were in uncharted waters. USD posted a program best 26-9 overall record, posted a 12-4 mark in WCC play (the most wins in WCC play in program history) and they recorded the program's first ever post season win. Not only was the first ever post season win, but the Toreros advanced all the way to the Final Four of the WNIT, before falling to eventual WNIT champions Oklahoma State. In 2008, Fisher led USD to the WCC Tournament championship and back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight seasons. In only her second season at the helm of the program, Fisher orchestrated the biggest turn around in school history, a 12-game improvement from 9-19 in the 2005-06 season to a 21-9 record in 2006-07 season. The turn around was the fourth best in the nation. Under her tutelage, the Toreros placed three players on the All-WCC lists highlighted by Amanda Rego being named the WCC Co-Player of the Year. For her efforts, Fisher was named the 2007 WCC Co-Coach of the Year.
