The Bulls look for their ninth win in the last 11 games when they face the Owls.
TAMPA (Jan. 21, 2022) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team closes out its short two-game homestand on Saturday when Temple visits the Yuengling Center. Tipoff against the Owls is slated for 3 p.m. with the game airing on ESPN+ ($). The weekend’s meeting is the first of two scheduled between the two teams. The Bulls and Temple will meet in Philadelphia on Feb. 9.
South Florida looking for its fifth win in their last six games and ninth in its last 11 outings.
In addition, the Bulls look to improve to 15-3 all-time against Temple.
Elena Tsineke leads three players in double-digits in the scoring column, netting 14.6 points per game, and is fifth in The American in scoring after her season-high 30-point performance against Tulsa on Wednesday night. Tsineke is joined by Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (11.1 ppg) and Bethy Mununga (10.4 ppg), while Sydni Harvey (9.8 ppg) falls just shy of double figures. Elisa Pinzan is netting 8.4 points per game.
Mununga also leads The American and is 10th in the nation, averaging 11.5 rebounds per game, and is tops in the conference and fourth in the nation in total rebounds (207). Pinzan is first in the conference, and 20th in the nation in assists per contest dishing out 5.7 per outing, and first in The American in total assists (97) which is good enough for 14th in the nation.
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GAME 19 | SAT., JAN. 22 | 3 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPN+ ($)
Jim Louk (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: South Florida leads series, 14-3
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
RV/RV USF BULLS | 13-5, 3-1 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 19 vs. Tulsa, W, 66-63
Next Game: Jan. 26 at SMU, 8 p.m. ET
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 405-281 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
TEMPLE OWLS | 8-6, 3-0 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 19 vs. East Carolina, W, 56-41
Next Game: Jan. 26 vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Tonya Cardoza
Alma Mater: Virginia, 1991
Career Record: 246-179 (14th Season)
at Temple: Same
QUICK HITS
– The Bulls come into their meeting with Temple looking for their third-straight win against the Owls and seventh in their last eight meetings.
– The Bulls are coming off a tough hard-fought 66-63 win over Tulsa on Wednesday at home … Elena Tsineke fell one-point shy of tying her career-high with 30 points while Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added 17 points and 11 rebounds … Cristina Bermejo chipped in with seven points and a career-high nine rebounds.
– South Florida is currently receiving votes in the Associated Press (14) and USA Today/WBCA Coaches (24) Top 25 poll.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
– Temple enters the game with the Bulls with an 8-6 record and a 3-0 mark in The American, after its 56-41 win over East Carolina at home on Wednesday … The Owls have won three straight games and six of their last nine after starting the season 2-3.
– Mia Davis leads three players in double figures in the scoring column for Temple, averaging 17.8 points per game on the year, followed Alexa Williamson averaging 10.5 points per contest … Juselle Thomas netting 10.4 points per game … Davis also paces Temple on the glass, grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE OWLS
– Saturday’s game marks the 18th meeting between USF and Temple with the Bulls holding a 14-3 series lead, dating back to the inaugural meeting in January of 2014 … USF is 5-1 all-time against the Owls in Tampa.
– The Bulls defeated Temple in the only meeting of the season last year, 56-47, in Philadelphia.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– Following the game with the Owls, the Bulls head back on the road for back-to-back games in the Lone Star state at SMU on Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+) and then at Houston on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. (ESPN+) … South Florida will return home to face Tulane on Feb. 6 at noon.
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 –
