Dec. 16, 2004

USF HOSTS SONOMA STATE FRIDAY NIGHT: San Francisco concludes its three-game homestand when they host the Sewolves of Sonoma State Friday night at War Memorial Gym. The next day the Dons depart the Bay Area for the east coast where they will take on the Pirates of Seton Hall Monday evening in the final game before Christmas break. USF takes on Sonoma State, who enters the contest searching for their first win of the 2004-05 season after an 0-7 start. This is the second straight season San Francisco has taken on the Seawolves, after an exhibition contest between the two teams last season.

Toni Russell SECOND ON WCC CAREER STEALS CHARTS: With her first steal against William and Mary, senior guard Toni Russell passed Tami Adkins (1989-93) as the most prolific thief in USF women's basketball history, entering Friday's contest against Sonoma State with 291 career steals. Russell needs 28 to pass Portland's Deana Lansing (1993-97) for the top spot on the West Coast Conference career steals list and currently sits alone in second place. For perspective, USF men's basketball stars Gerald Walker (344) and Orlando Smart (279) rank first and second respectively in WCC history in steals. Russell needs 54 steals to be the most prolific thief in USF basketball history.

KRUEGER CLIMBING USF REBOUND LEADER BOARD: Sixth-year senior center Mary Jane Krueger has already pulled down 88 rebounds in just nine games this season and has moved into sixth place on the USF career rebound list with 707. After a nine rebound performance against #2 Stanford (12/12/04), Krueger passed former teammate Sarah Wanless (1996-2000) who recorded 704 for sixth place on the list. USF Hall-of-Famer Teri Hunt (1984-87) sits in fifth place, recording 711 in just three seasons.

SISTER ACT: USF assistant coach and WNBA coaching veteran Heidi VanDerveer and her sister, Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer squared off against each other from opposite benches for the first time in their careers when USF No. 2 Stanford visited War Memorial Gym last Sunday.

WHO'S HOT FOR THE DONS: USF has posted a 3-2 record over its last five games led by freshman guard Dominique Carter, who continues to impress during the early going of the 2004-2005 season, averaging a team-high 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in her last five outings. Senior center Mary Jane Krueger adds 10.8 points on .524 (22-42) from the floor to go along with 10.4 rebounds. Senior guard Toni Russell has chipped in with 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.6 steals.

USF ON THE RADIO AND THE NET: USF women's basketball returns to the airwaves and cyberspace for the 2004-2005 season and all games will be available live at USFDons.com and at KUSF 90.3 FM. Join George Devine for the play-by-play of all 28 games of the 2004-2005 schedule. USF women's basketball is in its ninth season on the radio and in cyberspace. Other features include GameTracker, courtesy of College Sports with live scoring and play-by-play. A new feature for the 2004-2005 season is live streaming video of non televised home contests, courtesy of YahooSports.