Elena Tsineke scored a game-high 23 points and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the win.
Game Details
-/RV USF 66, No. 17/19 Arkansas 65,
USF (11-4), Arkansas (13-2)
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 | 4 p.m. ET | FloSports
San Diego, Calif. | Pechanga Arena
South Florida Athletics Communications contributed to this recap.
SAN DIEGO (Dec. 21, 2022) (AP) — Elena Tsineke scored all four of South Florida’s points in overtime and finished with 23 points as the Bulls beat No. 17 Arkansas 66-65 on Wednesday in the San Diego Invitational.
South Florida needed the extra-time victory after losing in overtime on Tuesday in a tournament opener against No. 3 Ohio State.
Maria Alvarez forced overtime against Arkansas by making three free throws with 17 seconds left to tie it at 62-all. Arkansas was trapped in the corner at the other end and wasn’t able to get a shot off before the buzzer.
Tsineke opened the overtime session with a basket at 4:12 and South Florida led the rest of the way as neither team made another field goal. Arkansas was 0 for 4 in overtime.
Makayla Daniels had a layup attempt roll out with 19 seconds left for Arkansas, but the Razorbacks regained possession after a jump ball was called on the rebound. After a timeout at 15.5, Chrissy Carr missed a shot in the lane and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu secured the rebound and the win.
Fankam Mendjiadeu finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds for South Florida (11-4). She was coming off a big game against Ohio State with a career-high 34 points and 17 rebounds.
South Florida was held to just five points in the second quarter after going scoreless for eight minutes. The Bulls were 2-of-13 shooting in the quarter and trailed 27-18 at halftime after turning it over 11 times.
Erynn Barnum scored 21 points and Daniels added 20 for Arkansas (13-2).
Notable
- Wednesday’s starters for the Bulls were: G Elena Tsineke, G Aerial Wilson, F Sammie Puisis, F Carla Brito and F Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu … The Bulls are 9-4 with this lineup.
- The win over Arkansas improves the Bulls’ record against the Razorbacks to 2-0 in the all-time series.
- Wednesday’s game against Arkansas was the Bulls’ sixth against the Top 25 in their last eight games.
- South Florida has won six of its last seven overtime games and seven of its last nine games.
- Elena Tsineke’s 23 points against Ohio State mark her 71st career double-figure scoring game in her 94th career game with the Bulls.
- Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu’s 16 points and 12 rebounds mark her 42nd career double-double and her 17th game in a South Florida uniform.
Up Next
Following the San Diego Invitational, South Florida begins American Athletic Conference play after the holiday break when it travels to New Orleans to face Tulane on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+), and then returns to the Yuengling Center on Jan. 3 to take on Temple at 5 p.m. (ESPNU).
Catch The Bulls on Bulls Unlimited & ESPN+
The majority of USF’s regular-season games will be streamed live on the ESPN+ platform. The American Athletic Conference and ESPN began a new 12-year television rights agreement which started in 2020-21. 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.
In addition, all games this season will be broadcast live on USF Bulls Unlimited, with Darek Sharp (home and away) and Brigid Merenda (for home games only) on the call. Bulls Unlimited is available via the free Tune In app (search “Bulls Unlimited’’) and provides static-free quality whether you’re listening on your streaming device, laptop or desktop.
About USF Women’s Basketball
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South Florida recorded its 10th 20-win season during the 2021-22 campaign while playing in its sixth American Athletic Conference championship game in its nine years in the conference. The Bulls achieved their highest national ranking of the season when it checked in at No. 13 in the Nov. 30 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and advanced to their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine years.
USF has made 17 postseason tournament appearances and had eight NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 22 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 10 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, and has won over 400 career games. 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 at the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign.
In 2021-22, the Bulls had three players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (All-Conference First Team), Bethy Mununga (All-Conference Second Team) and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (All-Conference Second Team).
In addition, Tsineke and Mununga were named to the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team.
–#GoBulls –
