STOCKTON, Calif.- Returning home for the first time since their season opener, the Pacific women's basketball team will welcome two Bay Area opponents when they host San Francisco and Santa Clara this upcoming weekend.
 
Set to take the floor at the Spanos Center for the first time since Dec. 15, the Tigers will face the Dons and Broncos to kick off their 2020-2021 home conference slate after hosting these same two teams to finish the 2019-20 regular season.
 
GAME DETAILS:
 
Game One-

Date: Thursday, January 7, 2020

Matchup:  San Francisco (4-5) at Pacific (3-2)
 
Location: Stockton, California 

Venue: Alex G. Spanos Center 
 
Time: 7:00 p.m. PST

Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats 
 
 
Game Two-
 
Date: Saturday, January 9, 2020

Matchup: Santa Clara (5-4) at Pacific (3-2)
 
Location: Stockton, California 

Venue: Alex G. Spanos Center 
 
Time: 2:00 p.m. PST

Links: Watch | Listen | Live Stats 
 
 
THINGS TO KNOW:

• Finally returning to Stockton after almost a month, Pacific recorded a 3-1 record overall in four games played on their recent road trip, including their first ever victory as a program over LSU as well as two straight overtime wins (UNLV + Saint Mary's).
• Hitting her stride, redshirt senior Valerie Higgins ranks amongst the best in the WCC in multiple statistical categories: first in steals (3.4 spg), third in scoring (16.8 ppg), fourth in free throw percentage (.771), fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.89), fifth in blocked shots (1.0 bpg), sixth in assists (3.4 apg) and seventh in rebounding (7.0 rpg).
• Proving to be a workhorse for the Tigers, senior Lianna Tillman currently ranks first in the conference and ninth nationally in minutes played per game with an average of 38.71. Additionally, Higgins ranks third in the conference respectively with a 34.70 average. Dishing the rock, Tillman is also third in the WCC in assists per game, averaging 4.20 per contest for Pacific so far.
• As a team, the Tigers have limited their mistakes despite little preparation this season, currently placing third in the WCC in turnover margin with a +0.60 mark. Overall, Pacific also sits fourth in the conference in free throw percentage (.731) heading into the weekend.

 
SCOUTING THE DONS:

• Thursday marks the 45^th all-time meeting between the Dons and Tigers. Currently, USF owns a 24-20 advantage in the series, with Pacific tallying an 8-7 against the Dons since rejoining the WCC in 2013-14.  Last year, the two programs split the season series with the visiting team coming away with the win both times. Last time out, USF took down the Tigers, 67-61 at the Alex G. Spanos Center on Feb. 27, 2020 in the second to last game of the 2019-20 regular season.
• Last time out, the Dons fell to 0-3 in conference play after falling to Loyola Marymount, 72-55, on Monday, Jan. 4. As a unit, USF had three players in double figures and were led by 3x WCC Freshman of the Week Ionna Krimili, who had 15 points. 
• Historically, head coach Molly Goodenbour currently sits at 299 career victories at all levels as USF looks for their first win of the new year.
• Following their trip to the Stockton, the Dons will remain on the road this weekend, making the short drive to Moraga, Calif., where they will take on the Saint Mary's Gaels on Saturday, Jan. 9. 

 
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS:

• Aiming to push their win streak to three-straight over Santa Clara, Pacific has defeated the Broncos the last two times out, including a 67-49 victory in the opening round of the 2020 WCC Tournament. Overall, SCU holds the advantage in the all-time series, leading 31-27 heading into Saturday's matchup.
• Recently, the Broncos fell at home to Loyola Marymount, 66-57, on Saturday, Jan. 2 before their contest vs. Pepperdine on Monday was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
• As a team, Santa Clara (5-4, 1-2 WCC) is discipline defensively, holding opponents to 58.1 points per game and forcing 19.3 turnovers per contest while also notching 10.4 steals per game. Offensively, the Broncos average 60.1 points per game on 38.5-percent shooting from the field, including a 31.3-percent mark from behind-the-arc.
• Individually, Lindsey VanAllen currently paces the team with 11.8 ppg and 2.1 steals per game, while also pulling down 4.1 rebounds per game. Additionally, Ashlyn Herlihy pours in an average of 10.7 ppg with a team leading 6.8 rpg, while Merle Wiehl adds 8.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg for SCU on average. Connecting with her teammates, Ashlee Maldonado's 3.7 assists per game are also the most among the Broncos.
• Before making their way to the Spanos Center, the Broncos will face Saint Mary's on the road in Moraga tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 pm.

 
FOLLOW US:
For more updates and more information on the 2020-21 Pacific women's basketball team, be sure to follow @Pacific_Hoops on Twitter, @pacificwbb on Instagram and @PacificWomensBasketball on Facebook.