The Bulls face the Lady Hornets at 5:30 p.m. in the first game of a women’s and men’s doubleheader.
TAMPA (Dec. 5, 2019) – USF returns to the Yuengling Center to begin a two-game homestand, over 10 days, on Friday against Alabama State. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. The Bulls look to stay perfect at home, aiming for their sixth win of the season.
GAME 10 | FRI., DEC. 6, 2019 | 5:30 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
Live Stats | Watch Live | Listen Live
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: YouTube (GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Analyst)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: USF leads series, 1-0
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
-/RV USF BULLS | 5-4
Last Game: Nov. 30 vs. Notre Dame L, 67-51
Next Game: Dec. 15 vs. Idaho, 1 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 359-263 (20th season)
at USF: Same
ALABAMA STATE HORNETS | 3-3
Last Game: Dec. 1 vs. Samford, L, 83-48
Next Game: Dec. 12 at Wisconsin, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Freda Freeman-Jackson
Alma Mater: Alabama State, 1984
Career Record: 311-319 (21st season)
at Alabama State: Same
QUICK HITS
– The Bulls have two players – Elena Tsineke (12.0) and Bethy Mununga (11.3) – that are averaging double figures in the scoring column and three others that are netting no less than 7.9 points per game.
– USF is coming off a 67-51 loss, on Nov, 30, to 2019 NCAA national runner-up Notre Dame on the final day of the Cancun Challenge … Elena Tsineke scored a team-high 12 points and Shae Leverett added 11 points … Bethy Mununga had 10 rebounds.
– USF is currently receiving votes (6) in USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll, released on Tuesday … The Bulls had been ranked as high as No. 20 (Nov. 26) in the Coaches poll.
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.
– Friday’s game against Alabama State is Celebrate Tampa Bay Day … The first 500 students will receive USF foam fingers, while Zoo Tampa, the Florida Aquarium and Busch Gardens will have touch tanks available … The game will be the first game of a women’s and men’s doubleheader, with the men’s team facing Dartmouth at 8 p.m.
– Sunday Dec. 15 will be USF’s Holiday Spectacular with the first 500 fans in attendance wearing an ugly sweater receiving a USF basketball holiday ornament along with a 15 percent discount to the USF team store … The game will be the first game of the final women’s and men’s doubleheader of the season with the men’s team taking on Drexel at 4 p.m. … In addition, at both games, Santa Claus will be at the Yuengling Center along with a performance by the popular Zooperstars.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– Following a break for final exams, the Bulls will conclude their two-game homestand with Idaho on Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. … The game is the first game of the final women’s and men’s doubleheader of the season with the men’s team taking on Drexel at 4 p.m.
– The Green and Gold close out their games before the holiday break at the Duel in the Desert, Dec. 19-21, in Las Vegas … The Bulls will take on 2019 NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed Mississippi State on Dec. 19 (7 p.m. ET) and either the face UNLV or Virginia on Dec. 21 (3/5 p.m. ET).
A QUICK LOOK AT THE BULLS
– The Bulls lead, or are in the top five, in the American Athletic Conference in several statistical categories through games of Dec. 4:
Assists: 2nd (123)
Total Blocked Shots: 4th (33)
Blocked Shots Per Game: 5th (3.7)
FG Percentage Defense: 4th (36.0)
Scoring Defense: 2nd (54.9)
Scoring Margin: 2nd (+9.4)
3-Point FG Percentage Defense: 3rd (28.5%)
3-Point FG Made: 1st (64)
3-Pt FG Attempted: 1st (218)
3-Pt FG Per Game: 2nd (7.1)
Total Rebounds: 1st (385)
Rebounds Per Game: 2nd (42.8)
Rebounding Margin: 1st (+11.0)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: 1st (17.6)
– In just four games Elena Tsineke has already made her presence felt for the Bulls after being cleared to play by the NCAA … Tsineke missed the first five games of the season after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA … The native of Greece, Tsineke leads the team in scoring, averaging 12 points per game … She has scored double figures in three of the four games she has played, including a career-high 19 points against Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 29 in the Cancun Challenge … She is shooting 42.9 percent (15-for-35) from the field, including 36.8 percent (7-for-19) from behind the arc, and 84.6 percent (11-for-13) from the free-throw line.
– Bethy Mununga comes into Friday’s game averaging a double-double through the first nine games of the season … Her 11.3 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per outing are second and first on the team, respectively … She has scored in double figures in six or USF’s nine games, including a career-high 16 points against Baylor to go along with a career-high tying 12 rebounds … She’s shooting 55.0 percent (44-for-80) from the field on the year which is good enough for second in The American through Dec. 4.
– Mununga has recorded a double-double in five of the Bulls’ nine games … She is first in The American, and eighth in the nation, in double-doubles through Dec. 4 … She has grabbed double-digit rebounds in seven games this season.
– Enna Pehadzic is third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.1 points per game on the year … She is shooting 37.3 percent (22-for-59) from behind the arc … Her 22 threes made is first in The American and eighth in the nation through Dec. 4 … She has led the team in scoring in three of the Bulls’ nine games this season, including a 20-point effort against Jacksonville on Nov. 5.
– Freshman Maria Alvarez is fourth on the team in scoring, and second in assists, averaging 8.9 points and 3.0 assists per game, respectively … She recorded a career afternoon, pouring in 20 points against VCU on Nov. 15.
– Elisa Pinzan had a season-high 14 points against No. 2/2 Baylor on Nov. 19 on 5-for-14 (32.7 percent) shooting from the field, and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from behind the arc … She is fourth in the AAC in total assists (35) through Dec. 4.
SCOUTING ALABAMA STATE
– Alabama State comes into Friday’s game with a 3-3 record after its 83-48 loss to Samford on Dec. 1 … The Lady Hornets have won two of their last three games over Jacksonville State (68-63) on Nov. 20 and Paine (84-58) on Nov. 24, before their loss to Samford.
– Ayana Emmanuel leads Alabama State in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game, followed by Aniyah Smith’s 12.5 points per outing … Smith is also the Lady Hornets’ top rebounded, grabbing 7.7 rebounds per contest.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE LADY HORNETS
– Friday’s game is just the second meeting between USF and Alabama State, with the Bulls holding a 1-0 lead in the all-time series … The Green and Gold defeated the Lady Hornets, 102-96 in triple overtime on Jan. 22, 1984 in Tampa.
LAST TIME OUT
– USF closed out its play in the 2019 Cancun Challenge on Nov. 30 with a 67-51 loss to 2019 NCAA national runner-up Notre Dame … Elena Tsineke led the Bulls with 12 points and Shae Leverett added 11 points … Bethy Mununga grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for her seventh double-figure rebounding performance in nine games with USF.
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 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.
– #GoBulls –
