The Bulls face the Rams in an 11 a.m. Elementary School Day tilt.
TAMPA (Nov. 14, 2019) – USF closes out its four-game season-opening homestand on Friday with an 11 a.m. Elementary School Day tilt against VCU. The Bulls look to begin the season 4-0 for the fourth straight season and the fifth time since the 2012-13 campaign. USF looks to close out the home stretch on a winning note before heading out on its first road trip of the season to face defending NCAA champion – and No. 2 ranked – Baylor on Nov. 19 in Waco, Texas.
GAME FOUR | FRI., NOV. 14, 2019 | 11 A.M. | YUENGLING CENTER, TAMPA, FLA.
25/RV USF BULLS | 3-0
Last Game: Nov. 12 vs. Howard, W, 82-53
Next Game: Nov. 19 at No. 2/2 Baylor, 8 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 357-259 (20th season)
at USF: Same
VCU RAMS | 1-1
Last Game: Nov. 12 at Seton Hall, L, 53-33
Next Game: Nov. 20 vs. East Carolina, 11 a.m.
Head Coach: Beth O’Boyle
Alma Mater: Gettysburg College 1998
Career Record: 180-155 (11th season)
at VCU: 87-72 (Sixth season)
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: BullsVision (GoUSFBulls.com)
Jim Louk (PxP)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Bridgit Merenda (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: First meeting
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: 1-800-GoBulls
QUICK HITS
– Tuesday’s meeting with the Bison is the fourth of five home games that USF will play in its first six outings … Following the game against VCU, the Bulls will play at No. 2 Baylor on Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. ET.
– USF comes into the game against VCU following a dominating 82-53 win over Howard on Nov. 12 … Enna Pehadzic had 16 points to lead the Bulls, while Bethy Mununga had a career-high 14 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the year.
– USF comes into this week as the newest team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, at No. 25 … USF collected nine votes in the preseason AP poll and five votes in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Top 25.
TICKET & PROMOTION INFORMATION
– For ticket questions or to purchase tickets, please visit USFBullsTix.com or call 1-800-GoBulls … Season and single-game tickets are available, however, courtside seats are sold out for the 2019-20 season.
– The final game of the Bulls’ four-game season-opening homestand, against VCU on Nov. 15, will be Elementary School Day … Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. … There will be free admission to elementary schools, poster giveaways and a poster signing following the game … In addition, all elementary school children will get a USF athletics workbook.
– After the Bulls face Baylor, they will return home to take on Saint Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. … That will be Go Green Day where fans will get $3 tickets for bringing in recyclable items.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– Following its game with VCU, USF will hit the road for the first time during the 2019-20 season when it travels to the Lone Star State to face defending national champion and second-ranked Baylor on Nov. 19 … Tipoff in Waco is 8 p.m. ET with the game airing on ESPN+.
– The Green and Gold return to the Yuengling Center on Nov. 24 when they take on Saint Francis (Pa.) … Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE BULLS
– The Bulls lead The American (through Nov. 13) in rebounding margin (16.3), total rebounds (149), scoring defense (49.7) and scoring margin (22.3).
– Enna Pehadzic comes into Friday’s game averaging a team-high 17.3 points per game on the year on 43.2 percent (16-for-37) from the field, including 48.1 percent (13-for-27) from behind the arc … She has led the team in scoring in all three games this season, including a 20-point effort against Jacksonville on Nov. 5.
– Bethy Mununga is averaging a double-double to start the season … She is currently netting 12.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest through three games … In addition, she is shooting an impressive 68.0 percent (17-for-25) from the field … Her field goal percentage is tops in the conference … She scored 11 points and grabbed a career high 12 rebounds in her USF debut against Jacksonville on Nov. 5, and netter a career best 14 points and had 11 boards against Howard on Nov. 12 … She is second in The American, and third in the nation, in double-doubles.
– Freshman Maria Alvarez is third in the team in scoring, and second in assists, averaging 10.0 points and 3.7 assists per game, respectively.
– Elisa Pinzan is fourth in the AAC in total assists (49) and fifth in assists per game, dishing out 4.7 per contest.
SCOUTING VCU
– VCU comes into the game with the Bulls with a 1-1 record following a 53-33 loss at UMBC on Nov. 12 … The Rams opened the 2019-20 campaign with a 66-38 win over Appalachian State on Nov. 5.
– Friday is the first of two straight 11 a.m. games that VCU will play … The Rams will also host fellow USF AAC foe, East Carolina, on Nov. 20 for an 11 a.m. tip.
– Madison Hattix-Covington is one of two VCU players averaging double figures, early on this season, netting 11.5 points per game … She is followed by Danielle Hammond, averaging 10.5 points per outing … Sydnei Archie leads the team on the glass, grabbing 8.0 rebounds per game
THE SERIES AGAINST THE BISON
– Friday’s game marks the 18th meeting between USF and VCU dating back to the 1984-85 season, however, this is the first time since the 1996-97 season that the Bulls and Rams have met … VCU comes into the contest with a 13-4 lead in the all-time series.
LAST TIME OUT
– USF got 16 points from Enna Pehadzic and a career high 14 points, along with 11 rebounds, from Bethy Mununga as the Bulls dominated Howard, 82-53, on Nov. 12.
– Joining Pehadzic and Mununga with double figures in the scoring column was Kristyna Brabencova with a career high 11 points and Maria Alvarez equaling her career best with 11.
– In addition, the Bulls got 33 points from their bench, in the win, as nine of the 10 players that saw the court found their way into the scoring column.
– USF shot 41.4 percent (29-for-70) from the field on the night, including an impressive 58.3 percent (7-for-12) in the fourth quarter, while holding Howard to just 28.8 percent (17-for-59) from the field.
PEHADZIC NAMES AAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
– Enna Pehadzic was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 10, the league announced on Mov. 11 … It is Pehadzic’s first such weekly honor.
– Pehadzic picked up where she left off from last season, averaging 18 points per game in USF’s 2-0 opening week, including a 64-57 win over No. 15 Texas … She led the Bulls in scoring in both games, dropping 20 points in the season opener, a 70-39 victory against Jacksonville on Nov. 5, on 6-of-12 shooting from the field … All of her field goals came from beyond the arc … Against the Longhorns on Nov. 8, Pehadzic scored 16 points that included another trio of three-pointers … USF’s defeat of Texas marked the Bulls’ first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 11, 2018, when it defeated No. No. 13 Ohio State, 84-65.
– #GoBulls –
About USF Women’s Basketball
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USF notched its eighth consecutive 19-win season and eighth straight postseason appearance in 2018-19. The Bulls celebrated two all-conference honorees in Enna Pehadzic and Sydni Harvey.
USF has made 15 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 19 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 more than 350 games.
