March 25, 2014
Complete Release in PDF Format 
TIP OFF: The University of San Diego women's basketball team (24-8) will now remain on the road for the Sweet 16 round of the WNIT, as they head to Seattle, Wash. on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game against the University of Washington.
LAST TIME OUT: The University of San Diego women's basketball team held on to claim a 60-57 win over the University of Montana in the second round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament Monday evening at the Dahlberg Arena. With the win, the Toreros improve to 24-8 overall, and advance onto the sweet 16 of the WNIT and will take on Washington game on Wednesday, Mar. 26 at 7 p.m.. With the loss, the Lady Grizz concludes the season at 23-11 overall. With 3.3 seconds left, and USD clinging to a 3-point lead, the Grizz inbounded the ball and Jordan Sullivan threw up a wild shot that didn't have a chance, and fell out of bounds as time expired to give USD the victory. Amy Kame led all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-26 shooting from the field, while pulling down five rebounds. Katherine Hamilton tied a career-high with 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field, while also recording a career-high six steals. Sophia Ederaine rounded off the double-digit scorers with 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting, while recording five blocks. As a team, USD shot 39.3% from the field, while outrebounding the Grizz 38-36.
TOREROS IN THE POSTSEASON: San Diego has made seven postseason appearances in the history of the program. This marks the fourth trip to the WNIT for USD, and third year in a row. USD is 7-3 all-time in WNIT games, posting an 0-1 record in 2006-07, then having a magical run to the Final Four in 2011-12, going 4-1. Last season, USD defeated Hawaii in the first round in San Diego, then fell on the road to Utah. USD picked up a 82-59 win over Cal Poly this season in the first round, followed by Monday's thrilling 60-57 win over Montana.
LIVE ON THE AIR: San Diego's Sweet 16 round game against Washington, will have a live free audio broadcast on usdtoreros.com, with Chris Loucks, USD Assistant AD for Media Relations bringing fans all the live play-by-play. Washington will also have a live video stream of the game through their website. All links will be on the USD women's basketball schedule page.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: Washington enters the game with an overall record of 19-13 after a thrilling come-from-behind win over PAC-12 rival Oregon in the second round game in Eugene this past Monday. The Toreros and Huskies are even in the series at one win apiece, with USD taking the last meeting in the Elite Eight Round of the WNIT two seasons ago in Seattle. Washington's offense is paced by freshman guard Kelsey Plum, who is averaging a team-best 21.3 ppg. Jazmine Davis is also a scoring threat with 19.3 ppg, while Talia Walton rounds off the double-digit scorers at 10.9 ppg. Aminah Williams is leading the rebounding effort at 10.3 boards-per-game.
LAST TIME VS. THE HUSKIES: The USD women's basketball team is heading to the WNIT Final Four after March 25th, 2012's impressive 58-47 Elite Eight win over the Washington Huskies at the Alaska Airlines Arena in front of 1,140 fans. USD received a game-high 21 points from senior guard Morgan Woodrow, and got a huge lift off the bench from freshman forward Sophia Ederaine who chipped in 13 rebounds and 9 blocked shots in 23 minutes of action. Washington (20-14) was paced by 6-3 center Regina Rogers (20 points, 13 rebounds), but Rogers had a difficult time throughout the contest with Ederaine altering many of her shot attempts as she converted just 7-of-18 attempts.
COMMON OPPONENTS: San Diego had four opponents in common with Washington in 2013-14. The Toreros defeated Arizona State 61-53, and UC Irvine 79-55 as part of their perfect start to the season. In league play USD split with Portland, falling 72-51 and winning 59-52, and dropped two of three to Saint Mary's, winning in San Diego 80-70, then falling in Moraga, 71-68, and falling in the WCC quarterfinal, 60-58. All together, USD is 4-3 against these common opponents, while Washington is 1-3 against them, only defeating UCI 72-69. Washington dropped a 91-81 decision to Saint Mary's in Moraga, Calif., then fell to Portland at home 91-77 the very next game. ASU then came to Seattle, and walked away with a 78-60 win.
IMPRESSIVE SEASON CONTINUES: San Diego women's basketball team, continues to reach uncharted waters for the program. The Toreros have surpassed any USD team before them, by beginning the season 15-0, then jumping into the top-25 on the week of Jan. 6 at No. 24 for the first-time in program history, and they were also receiving votes in the top-25 polls for eight consecutive weeks. San Diego has defeated five post-season teams from a year ago along the way in Northern Colorado, Idaho, San Diego State, Saint Mary's, and BYU. USD has also knocked off Arizona State, who was ranked in the top 25 for a majority of the season, and appeared in the NCAA Tournament.
KAT'S WORLD: Freshman guard Katherine Hamilton has been a huge help to the Toreros over the first two games of the WNIT. The Chandler, Ariz. native is averaging 12.0 ppg, while shooting .500 from the field. She is also a defensive leader for the Toreros, as she has recorded eight steals, with a career-high of six coming in the win over Montana this past Monday Hamilton's 12 points in both the first two WNIT games, ties a career-high for her, and she has now reached 12 points in three games with the other coming in a loss at Saint Mary's.
KAME DOMINATING WNIT PLAY: San Diego senior guard Amy Kame has refused to let her career end, as she is currently averaging 27.5 ppg, while shooting .532 from the field, and she is averaging 4.0 assists and rebounds per game as well in WNIT games this season.
BLOCKING HER WAY INTO HISTORY: San Diego junior forward Sophia Ederaine recorded seven blocks in the WCC quarterfinal loss to Saint Mary's on March 7. These seven blocks tied a tournament single-game record with former Torero great Chris Enger, as well as SMC's Louella Tomlinson. With five more blocks in the win over Montana, Ederaine's season total moved to 80, which is good fifth all-time at USD in single-season blocks with Amber Sprague. Her career total has now moved to 191, which is good for third all-time at USD.
KAME MOVES INTO THIRD ALL-TIME: Senior guard Amy Kame has now moved into third all-time in career points at USD, thanks to her 25 points in Monday's win over Montana. Kame currently has 1.526 career points. However, Kame's game is not limited to scoring, as she is currently third all-time in career steals with 219, and is now tied for sixth all-time in career assists at 326. Kame's 17.3 ppg average currently is third best single-season ppg average in program history.
TOREROS IN ROAD GAMES: San Diego has truly made the Jenny Craig Pavilion, one of the toughest venues for opponents to play. USD is bolstering a 15-1 record at home. However, USD on the road is a little different with a 9-6 overall record. USD is a perfect 6-0 in non-conference road games however, but they posted a 3-7 mark in WCC road contests. In road games all together, Amy Kame paces the Torero scoring effort at 18.4 ppg, while Malina Hood (11.8 ppg) and Felicia Wijenberg (10.7 ppg) are also averaging double figures. The Toreros are out rebounding their opponents by a 13.0 margin (625-430). USD is also out scoring the opposition 1,001-926, while shooting .411 from the field and holding opponents to a .381 shooting percentage.
TRIO OF TOREROS EARN ALL-WCC ACCOLADES: The University of San Diego women's basketball team had three players earn All-West Coast Conference accolades, highlighted by senior guard Amy Kame being selected first-team All-WCC. Both sophomore guard Malina Hood and senior forward Felicia Wijenberg were named All-WCC honorable mention.
THREE STRAIGHT 20-WIN SEASONS: With the 59-52 win over Portland on Feb. 15, the Toreros posted their third consecutive 20-win season, and fourth overall 20-win season in program history. Last season, when USD won its 20th game, it marked back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time ever. So new heights continue for the Toreros under ninth-year head coach Cindy Fisher. This string of 20-win seasons has ended like this... In 2011-12, USD finished with a program-best 26-9 overall record, and a trip the Final Four of the WNIT...then in 2012-13, USD posted a 22-10 overall record and reached the second round of the WNIT. Where will this season's team end up? Time will only tell. The only other 20-win Torero team was the 2006-07 squad, who went 21-9 and made the first round of the WNIT.
