The Bulls are looking for their sixth win of the season and their third win in their last four games when they face the Rams.
TAMPA (Dec. 11, 2021) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team returns from its semester exam break to close out its season-long seven-game road stretch when it travels to Richmond, Va. to face VCU on Sunday. Tip-off is at 1 p.m. with the game being broadcast on ESPN+. The Green and Gold is looking for its third win in the last four games.
South Florida, ranked 17th in this week’s Associated Press top-25 poll and 19th in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll, is looking to get back on the winning track after a 61-56 loss at UT Arlington on Dec. 2.
Sydni Harvey leads two players in double-digits in the scoring column, netting 14.6 points per game which is also good enough for seventh in the conference. Elena Tsineke is also averaging double digits, scoring 13.0 points per game. Falling just shy of scoring in double figures is Elisa Pinzan (9.8 ppg) and Bethy Mununga (9.6 ppg).
Mununga continues to dominate the glass, grabbing 13.1 rebounds per game, tops in the conference and second in the nation, right behind the national leader NaLyssa Smith of Baylor who is averaging 13.2 rebounds per contest. In addition, her career-high 23 rebounds against Stanford on Nov. 26 are tied for the most in the nation this season.
Can’t make it out to catch the Bulls? Most USF games will be aired live on ESPN+. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app are $6.99 monthly or $69.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
GAME NINE | SUN., DEC. 12 | 1 P.M. | RICHMOND, VA. | SIEGEL CENTER
GAME DAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPN+ ($)
Joe Deck (PxP), Demetrius Means (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: VCU leads series, 13-5
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: 804-828-RAMS
No. 17/19 USF BULLS | 5-3
Last Game: Dec. 2 at UT Arlington, L, 61-56
Next Game: Dec. 15 vs. Stetson, 11 a.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 397-279 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
VCU RAMS | 5-3
Last Game: Dec. 8 at Buffalo, L, 62-60
Next Game: Dec. 17 at Stetson, 11 a.m.
Head Coach: Beth O’Boyle
Alma Mater: Gettysburg, 1998
Career Record: 220-180 (14th season)
at VCU: 127-97 (Eighth season)
QUICK HITS
– The Bulls are looking to go 4-3 during the seven-straight road contests, a stretch that started on Nov. 15 at No. 15 Tennessee, and also included three consecutive top 10 opponents.
– USF is coming off a 61-56 loss at UT Arlington on Dec. 2 … Bethy Mununga (20 rebounds) and Sydni Harvey each scored a team-high 13 points, while Elisa Pinzan (11 assists) and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added 10 points apiece.
– South Florida is currently ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, falling four spots from the previous week … In addition, the Bulls are No. 19 in the most recent USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.
SCOUTING VCU
– VCU comes into Sunday’s game with a 5-3 record and winners of two of its last three games … The Rams are coming off a 62-60 loss at Buffalo on Dec. 8.
– Taya Robinson leads two players in double figures in the scoring column for the Rams, averaging 14.9 points per game, followed by Sarah Te-Biasu, netting 10.1 points per game, respectively … Chloe Bloom paces the team on the glass, grabbing 6.1 rebounds per outing, followed closely by Madison Covington-Hattix and her 6.0 rebounds per contest.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE RAMS
– Friday’s game against VCU marks the 19th meeting all-time between the two schools, and the first since the 2019-20 campaign … The Rams hold a 13-5 series lead, dating back to the 1984-85 season.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– South Florida will finally return home to the Yuengling Center for two straight, beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 15, against in-state foe Stetson for Education Day … Tip-off is at 11 a.m. … The Bulls will close out the short home short two-game stretch on Dec. 17 against High Point at 7 p.m.
– Following the meeting with High Point, South Florida will hit the road again, heading south to take part in the West Palm Invitational at Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Fla., Dec. 20-21 … The Bulls will open the event against former BIG EAST Conference foe, West Virginia, on Dec. 20 before closing out the event against Ole Miss on Dec. 21 … Both games tip-off at 1:15 p.m.
– South Florida will close out its 2021-22 nonconference slate on Dec. 29 at the Yuengling Center against Jacksonville … Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.
About USF Women’s Basketball
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF women’s basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
USF recorded its best season in program history during the 2020-21 campaign, all while navigating the unpredictable COVID-19 landscape. In doing so, the Bulls won their first-ever American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and posted their highest ranking in the Associated Press Top25 poll – reaching as high as No. 12 – and made their ninth straight postseason appearance, and sixth NCAA appearance in the last 10 years.
USF has made 16 postseason tournament appearances and had seven NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 21 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to nine 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, and won nearly 400 career games. For his efforts on the sideline during the 2020-21 season, Fernandez was named a finalist for the WBCA and semifinalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Awards. He was also tabbed the 2021 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
The Bulls posted a 19-4 record and had five players, during the 2020-21 campaign, the Bulls had five players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elisa Pinzan (Most Improved Player, All-Conference Second Team), Maria Alvarez (Co-Sixth Player of the Year), Bethy Mununga (All-Conference First Team), Elena Tsineke (All-Conference First Team), and Sydni Harvey (All-Conference Third Team).
In addition, Harvey was named the American Athletic Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player and to the All-Tournament Team, while Mununga and Tsineke were also All-Tournament selections.
–#GoBulls –
