In their last game before facing Washington, San Francisco lost to Colorado State, 62-53.
San Francisco Offense
San Francisco’s offense averages 61.8 points per game; while the Huskies average 76.9 points per game — a 15.1 point differential.
San Francisco is a below average three-point shooting team at 29.7% accuracy from beyond the arc.
Defensively, Washington defenders are holding opponents to only 24.0% shooting from three-point range (ranked in Top 11% nationally).
Interestingly, San Francisco is also a poor shooting team from two-point range, making only 40.1% of their two-point attempts.
Perhaps to compensate, San Francisco is a high volume three-point shooting team — averaging 24.1 three-point attempts per game (Top 15% of all Division One teams nationally).
Jasmine Gayles is the leading scorer for the Dons at 16.5 points per game; yet she is an inefficient volume-shooter.
Gayles is only making 23.8% of her three-point attempts, while making 39.6% of her two-point attempts.
Gayles is also averaging 4.8 boards per game and 3.5 assists for the Dons.
Debora dos Santos is a 6’0″ forward and the Dons second-leading scorer at 13.2 points.
Dos Santos is a highly efficient inside-scorer — making 55.2% of her two-point attempts, while making 66.7% of her two-point attempts within six feet of the rim.
Dos Santos is also San Francisco’s leading rebounder at 8.7 rebounds a game.
Fulcher is San Francisco’s best three-point shooter — making 50% of her three-point attempts.
Meanwhile, Fulcher makes only 33.3% of her two-point attempts.
Unexpectedly, Fulcher is the Dons second-leading rebounder at 6.0 boards per game.
Washington Defense
The Huskies have been struggling with defensive awareness in their most recent games.
Defensively, the Huskies must be constantly aware of Gayles, Dos Santos and Fulcher and seek to limit their offensive touches, and tightly contest all of their shots.
UW should control the lane with shot blocking (contesting all shots inside); as well as defensive rebounding.
Washington averages 31.6 defensive rebounds per game, which ranks in the Top 4% among Division One schools nationally.
Meanwhile, the Dons average 11.7 offensive rebounds per game, ranking in the Bottom 54% nationally.
The Huskies also average 4.7 blocks per game, which ranks among the Top 13% of Division One schools nationally.
The Huskies should dominate the Dons defensively, but lately have been allowing inferior opponent’s offenses to stay competitive in the first half of games.
Washington Offense
The Huskies are currently averaging 34.8% accuracy from three-point range (with 8.3 made three-pointers per game).
UW has eight players shooting 34% or better from beyond the arc :
Jayda Noble (40.0%); Lauren Schwartz (35.5%); Hannah Stines (35%); Elle Ladine (38.1%); Teagan Brown (36.4%), Ari Long (35.3%); Chloe Briggs (35.0%); and Sayvia Sellers(34.8%).
Washington’s offense is also very efficient from mid-range and close range, averaging 54.6% on two-pointers and 62% within six feet of the rim.
Overall, 52.9% of the UW Huskies made shots are the result of their 15.6 assists per game.
Prediction: Huskies Win! But will they dominate?
Washington will win this game against an overmatched (in all areas) San Francisco Dons.
The larger question is if the Washington Huskies will assert their dominance in the first half?
Or will the Dawgs play down to the level of competition before finally taking control in the second half?
This is a bad habit that the Huskies must break before facing PAC-12 opponents.
