USF Returns to the Yuengling Center Against Cincinnati in its Play 4 Kay Game

The Bulls look to get back in the win column on Wednesday against the Bearcats.

TAMPA (Feb. 15, 2022) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team plays its second game of a three-game homestand on Wednesday when the Bulls face Cincinnati at 7 p.m. at the Yuengling Center (ESPN+). The game will be South Florida’s annual Think Pink/Play 4 Kay game for breast cancer awareness. 

The Bulls look to earn a regular-season sweep against the Bearcats after South Florida defeated Cincinnati, 61-46, on Jan. 5.

South Florida comes into the game with the Bearcats looking for its ninth win in their last 12 games and 13th in their last 17 outings.

Elena Tsineke leads three players in double-digits in the scoring column, netting 14.6 points per game, and is fourth in The American in scoring after her 10-point performance against Central Florida on Sunday. Tsineke is joined by Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (11.4 ppg) and Bethy Mununga (10.7 ppg), while Elisa Pinzan is netting 8.0 points per game. Sydni Harvey is averaging 7.8 points per contest.

Mununga also leads The American and is 12th in the nation, averaging 11.4 rebounds per game, and is tops in the conference and seventh in the nation in total rebounds (274). Pinzan is first in the conference and 13th in the nation in assists per contest dishing out 5.7 per outing, and first in The American in total assists (134) which is good enough for 14th in the nation. Recently, against Temple on Feb. 9, Pinzan became just the third player in program history to dish out her 500th career assist.

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GAME 25 | WED., FEB. 16 | 7 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

TV/Online: ESPN+ ($)                                    

Jim Louk (PxP), Leah Secondo (Color)

Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)

Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Color)

Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast

Series: South Florida leads series, 22-17

Twitter Updates: @USFWBB

Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com

-/RV USF BULLS | 17-7, 7-3 AAC

Last Game: Feb. 13 vs. Central Florida, L, 54-33

Next Game: Feb. 22 vs. Wichita State, 7 p.m.

Head Coach: Jose Fernandez

Alma Mater: FIU, 1994

Career Record: 409-283 (22nd season)

at USF: Same

CINCINNATI BEARCATS | 10-13, 3-8 AAC

Last Game: Feb. 13 at Tulane, L, 80-56

Next Game: Feb. 19 vs. East Carolina, 2 p.m.

Head Coach: Michelle Clark-Heard

Alma Mater: Western Kentucky, 1990

Career Record: 242-129 (12th Season)

at Cincinnati: 64-49 (Fourth Season)

QUICK HITS

– South Florida is coming off a 54-33 loss to its rival, Central Florida, in the second edition of the War on I-4 on Sunday … Elena Tsineke scored a team-high 10 points while Shae Leverett grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds in the loss.    

– South Florida is currently receiving votes in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches (4) Top 25 poll.

SCOUTING CINCINNATI

– Cincinnati comes into its game with South Florida with a 10-13 overall record and a 3-8 mark in the American Athletic Conference … The Bearcats have dropped their last three games and nine of their last 12.

– Jillian Hayes leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.3 points per game, followed by Akira Levy’s 11.3 points per outing … Hayes also paces the team on the glass, grabbing 7.1 rebounds per game.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE BEARCATS

– Wednesday’s game marks the 40th meeting between USF and Cincinnati with the Bulls leading the all-time series, 22-17 … USF has won 15 of the last 18 games, and is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings against the Bearcats.

– The Bulls defeated Cincinnati, 61-46 on the road on Jan. 5 … Elena Tsineke led all scorers with 21 points while Bethy Mununga and Maria Alvarez chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively … Mununga also grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.

UP NEXT FOR USF

– Following its meeting with Cincinnati, South Florida will close out its three-game homestand on Feb. 22 against Wichita State at 7 p.m. (ESPN+) in the first of back-to-back games with the Shockers … The two programs will meet again on Feb. 24 at Wichita State (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET).

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.

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