SAN FRANCISCO – The SF State women's basketball team will play a pair of home game this week, concluding with senior night on Saturday when the Gators host Sonoma State. Prior to that the Gators will square off against UC Santa Cruz on a non-conference clash at The Swamp on Wednesday. Both games will feature live stats and video.
SF State enters this week with an 8-15 overall record, which includes a 6-11 mark in conference play. Their 6-11 record has the Gators sitting in ninth place in the CCAA standings, which is one game back of Cal State L.A. for that final spot in the CCAA Tournament.
SF State is currently riding a three-game win streak, the last time the Gators won three in a row was during the 2013-14 season when SF State won four in a row early in the year. As a team, the Gators are averaging 51.2 points per game, while shooting 33.6 percent from the field. Defensively, they are holding their opponents to 59.8 points per game while shooting 37.3 percent from the floor.
During the Gators winning streak, they are averaging 54.0 points per contest, while shooting 40.3 percent from the field. From beyond the arc the Gators are shooting 33.9 percent. Defensively, the Gators have held opponents to 46.0 points per game during their winning streak while opponents are shooting a miniscule 28.8 percent from the field, and 21.7 percent from 3-point range.
Leading the team in scoring is senior guard
Tatsiana Dashkevich who boasts 12.0 points per game, while shooting 36.6 percent from the floor. Dashkevich was named the SF State Female Gator of the Week last week for her performance in the wins over Cal State San Marcos and Sonoma State. For the week, Dashkevich averaged 16.5 points per game, while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor. Against Sonoma State she set a new career-high, scoring 20 points. She was instrumental down the stretch, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the second half.
Fellow senior
Naila Washington also had a big week last week. Against Cal State San Marcos she finished with a career-high 18 points, while grabbing eight rebounds in the overtime win. Washington is second on the team, averaging 9.4 points per game.
Laura Lawson is third on the team, averaging 9.3 points per game, she is also tops on the team averaging 9.0 rebounds per game. The nine boards is third in the CCAA and 65
th in the nation out of 250 payers ranked. Her 82 offensive rebounds is tops in the CCAA, her 4.0 offensive rebounds per game ranks 49
th in the country.
Freshman center
Kiara Ginwright remains the nation's premier shot blocker. Her 4.35 blocks per game is tops in the nation, while her 100 total blocks has her just shy of setting a new conference record. Ginwright is 12 blocks from tying UC Riverside's Donna Hammond-Mares' record of 112 blocks, a mark that has stood since the 1982-83 season.
Wednesday's opponent is UC Santa Cruz from Division III. The Banana Slugs enter Wednesday's game with a 13-9 overall record. UCSC has won six of their last eight contests, including three-straight. Last week they defeated William Jessup 64-51 before knocking off Bethesda University 59-55.
As a team, UC Santa Cruz is averaging 63.6 points per game, while shooting 36.6 from the field. Their opponents are averaging 59.7 points per game, while shooting 31.8 percent from the floor. Leading the team in scoring is senior guard/forward Tina Torres who is averaging 9.2 points per game. The Banana Slugs have a well balanced offense with seven players averaging better than 5.0 points per game.
On Saturday the Gators and Seawolves will renew their rivalry for the 69
th time. Sonoma State enters this week with an 8-18 overall record and are 3-14 in the CCAA. On the road, the Seawolves are just 1-7. They have lost eight of their last 10, including seven in a row. Last week Sonoma State fell to Cal State San Marcos 60-49 and SF State 63-46 at the Wolves Den.
As a team, Sonoma State is averaging 57.6 points per game, while shooting 35.6 percent from the floor, their opponents are averaging 61.9 points per contest, while shooting 39.5 percent from the field. Leading the team in scoring is sophomore guard Madison Burroughs, who is averaging 8.3 points per game.
Saturday's game marks the 69
th time these two teams have squared off, All-time the Gators and Seawolves are tied 34-34 in a series that dates back to the 1977 season when the Gators defeated Sonoma State 99-22.
Saturday's contest will be the final home game for four exceptional student athletes. The Gators will say farewell to
Brooke Shimazaki,
Jen Garcia,
Tatsiana Dashkevich and
Naila Washington in a pre-game ceremony at half court.
For in game updates on both contests be sure to follow the Gators on twitter
@SFState_Gators.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
