SAN DIEGO – For the first time since 2015, the San Diego women's basketball program (17-13, 11-7 WCC) will host a Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) game at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, welcoming Long Beach State (23-9, 17-3 Big West) for round one action on Thursday at 6 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT

• San Diego dropped their WCC Tournament quarterfinal game in a 71-57 decision to Pacific on Mar. 4.
• Kasey Neubert and Kiera Oakry helped lead the Toreros offense, with 12 points apiece.

 
OPPONENT HISTORY

• The Toreros are 10-6 all-time against the Beach, but have won the last seven meetings.  
• San Diego has met Long Beach State in the postseason before, defeating the Beach 63-56 in round one of the 2015 WNIT at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• Handling the basketball remains one of the key factors for San Diego, who lead the WCC in turnover margin (2.67), while ranking third in turnovers forced per game (16.37).
• The Toreros continue to find success on the glass, ranking 38th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (13.8).
• Neubert has been dominant on the glass in the second half of the season, averaging 9.3 rebounds per game over her last 12 contests and 7.4 rebounds per game this season, which ranks fifth in the conference.
• Should her pace continue, it would be the highest per game average by a Torero since Patricia Brossmann (7.6 RPG) in the 2018-19 season.
• San Diego is hoping to jump out to an early lead, where they tend to have the most success. San Diego is 15-3 when leading or tied at halftime, while 2-10 when they trail. The team broke their 0-5 start when they trail with a 16-point comeback victory over Saint Mary's on Dec. 29 and added the other win against BYU.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• San Diego is 11-7 all-time in WNIT action and has won at least one game in the event in six of their seven appearances.
• Ayanna Khalfani was recently named the WCC's Co-Defensive Player of the Year, while also being named to the All-WCC Second Team. Khalfani is the second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year for the Toreros.
• Oakry was also named to the Second Team and Neubert was named Honorable Mention. Veronica Sheffey was also tabbed the WCC's All-Freshman Team.
• Oakry has been adept at drawing contact all season and has gotten to the free throw line frequently, ranking fifth in the WCC and in the top-100 nationally in free throws made (113). As a unit, the Toreros lead the league in free throw attempts per game and makes per game.
• Myah Pace (1,122) is continuing her climb up the Toreros record books and sits in 14th on the all-time scoring list. Pace needs 29 more points to pass Tiara Harris (1,150) for 13th place.
• In addition, Pace is nine steals away from 250 in her career and ranks third all-time at San Diego.
• Pace is also sixth all-time in assists at 369 and needs seven more to match Kerri Nakamoto (376) for fifth.

 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Thursday's WNIT game will be streamed via the WCC Network, with live stats provided by statbroadcast. To stay up to date with Toreros women's basketball, follow the team on Instagram & Twitter by searching "USDwbb".