Shae Leverett becomes the program’s all-time leader in games played with 140.
Game Details
Central Florida 54, -/RV South Florida 33
USF (17-7, 7-3 AAC), Central Florida (18-3, 10-1 AAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2022 | 2 p.m. | ESPN2
Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
TAMPA (Feb. 13, 2022) — The University of South Florida women’s basketball team looked to even the season series against rival Central Florida in the second edition of the War on I-4 on Sunday, but the Knights had other ideas as they defeated the Bulls, 54-33, in the Yuengling Center.
South Florida falls to 17-7 on the year and 7-3 in the American Athletic Conference while Central Florida improves to 18-3 overall and 10-1 in the conference.
Elena Tsineke led the way for the Bulls with 10 points while Shae Leverett grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. It was her highest rebounding total of the season and most since grabbing 11 against the Knights on March 2, 2021, when the Bulls defeated Central Florida, 65-62, for the regular-season title.
In addition, Leverett became South Florida’s all-time leader in games played with 140.
The Bulls were tied at the end of the first quarter, 10-10, and trailed by six at the intermission, 27-21, despite closing the half on an 8-0 run over the last 2:36.
South Florida then started the second half scoring five of the first seven points, capped by a Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu rebound put back to cut the Knights’ lead to three, 29-26. That was as close as the Bulls got the rest of the way as Central Florida closed the third quarter on its own 8-0 run to lead 40-28 after 30 minutes of play.
The Knights secured the victory outscoring South Florida, 14-5 in the final quarter.
Notable
- Sunday’s starters for the Bulls were: G Elisa Pinzan, G Sydni Harvey, W Elena Tsineke, F Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, and F Bethy Mununga … The Bulls are 8-3 with this lineup.
- South Florida’s loss to Central Florida drops its record in the all-time series to 30-16.
- USF’s 33 points are the fewest since scoring 38 against UConn in a 79-38 loss in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament on March 3, 2020.
- Elena Tsineke’s 10 points against Central Florida marks her 52nd career double-figure scoring game in her 71st career game with the Bulls.
Up Next
Following the game against Central Florida, South Florida will return to the Yuengling Center to face Cincinnati on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. (ESPN+) for its annual Think Pink/Play for Kay game. Sunday’s meeting with Central Florida begins a crucial four-game in a six-game stretch that will be played in the
Yuengling Center.
For tickets call (800) Go-Bulls or head to USFBullsTix.com.
About USF Women’s Basketball
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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 –
