Game Details: Saturday, Dec. 21, Tampa, 12 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
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Tampa, Fla. – Dec. 20, 2024 – South Florida women’s basketball (6-6) hosts No. 9/10 Duke on Saturday, Dec. 21 at the Yuengling Center. Tipoff is slated for noon and the action will air live on ESPN2.
SETTING THE STAGE
The Bulls are looking for their 65-nonconference home win since the 2014-15 season. The Blue Devils are on the hunt for their fourth win in the month of December.
THE SOUTH FLORIDA-DUKE SERIES
Saturday is the fourth-ever meeting between the two squads and Duke leads the series 3-0. The most recent meeting was an 89-52 Duke triumph in the YC (Nov. 15, 2007).
A WIN WOULD MEAN
A ranked victory for USF would be the 22nd-ranked win in program history and Head Coach Jose Fernandez’s 20th-ranked win. A win for the Bulls would be the first-ranked victory since December 2022, when the Bulls topped No. 17/19 Arkansas, 66-65. A dub would be the Bull’s 30th win against a power-5 conference opponent since the 2012-13 season.
LAST TIME OUT
South Florida rolled to a 71-36 victory against Northwestern St. in the Yuengling Center on Tuesday night. Sophomore guard Vittoria Blasigh scored 10 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter. Blasigh was joined by red-shirt senior guard Romi Levy (15 points) and graduate guard Sammie Puisis (12 points) to round out the Bulls in double-figure points. Tonight marked the second straight game that USF has had three Bulls finish in double-digit points. Graduate guard Mama Dembele stashed a season-best nine steals and had a hand on six assists, her second straight game of five or more assists.
BEST OF THE BULLS
The Bulls are led by graduate guard Sammie Puisis (13.8 ppg.) & sophomore guard Vittoria Blasigh (10.7 ppg.) Puisis is ranked 12th in the nation with 35 total 3-pointers made and 19th in 3FG Made Per Game (2.92 3FGM). Junior forward Carla Brito holds a team best 7.5 rebound average. Graduate guard Mama Dembele is USF’s top assister with 5.3 apg. (64 total assists ranked 18th nationally). In the latest NCAA Nitty Gritties Report, South Florida’s NET SOS was ranked 7th and 75 in the NET.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
L’or Mputu (11 pts, 10 rbs) recorded a double-double and multiple blocks against then No. 3 South Carolina. The only other USF player this century to reach those marks in a game against an AP Top 5 opponent was Alishia Jenkins on January 12, 2012 vs. No. 5 Louisville. Vittoria Blasigh has a 43.6 three-point percentage this season after making 33.8 of her three-point attempts in 2023-24. The 9.6-point difference is the largest improvement by any AAC player this season (min. 40 3PA in both seasons). Sammie Puisis reached 700 points while playing for South Florida in her last game against South Carolina, which was her 46th game at USF. The only Bulls this century to reach 700 career points with the program in fewer games are Andrea Smith (43) and Jessica Dickson (40). South Florida has seven different players this season with at least 60 points and 30 rebounds, tied for the most in Division I (Duke, Kansas St., Michigan, Minnesota, Old Dominion, all have seven) It is also the most by any AAC team in 2024-25.
PROMOTIONS
Saturday’s giveaway features 1,500 Ugly Holiday Sweaters. Be sure to arrive early and grab yours while supplies last. The Holiday Celebration festivities also include a visit from Santa himself, cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa, hot cocoa, and a face painter.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase women’s basketball tickets by calling 1-800-GoBulls or at USFBullsTix.com.
ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
South Florida women’s basketball has made 18 postseason tournament appearances and had nine NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 25 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided the Bulls to 11 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2008-09 WNIT championship, has won over 450 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference.
For complete coverage of USF women’s basketball, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
– #GoBulls –
