Over 1,000 elementary and middle school students from Hillsborough County will be in attendance to see the Bulls and Hatters.
GAME 10 | WED., DEC. 15 | 11 A.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: USF leads series, 25-10
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
No. 17/19 USF BULLS | 6-3
Last Game: Dec. 12 at VCU, W, 64-57
Next Game: Dec. 17 vs. High Point, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 398-279 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
STETSON HATTERS | 6-4
Last Game: Dec. 12 at Holy Cross, L, 65-50
Next Game: Dec. 17 vs. VCU, 11 a.m.
Head Coach: Lynn Bria
Alma Mater: University of Charleston, 1990
Career Record: 391-395 (27 seasons)
at Stetson: 238-182 (14 seasons)
By Joey Johnston
USF women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez stepped into the Yuengling Center the other day for practice and took a long look around. “Man, I forgot what this place looks like,’’ he said with a smile. “It has been a while.’’
It has been a loooong while for the No. 16-ranked USF Bulls (6-3), who have their first home game since Nov. 11 when the Stetson Hatters (6-4) visit for a Wednesday matinee at 11 a.m.
Brunch with the Bulls? Actually, it’s USF Women’s Basketball Education Day. USF Athletics has invited more than 1,000 elementary school and middle-school students from the Hillsborough County School District. They will be served lunch and given activity books, appropriate for their grade level, that relate to the game.
“I know it’s going to be loud,’’ USF point guard Elisa Pinzan said. “But I think it’s going to be cool and super fun. Those kids are going to scream, even if they really don’t know what’s going on.’’
“You know the kids will bring the energy,’’ Bulls guard Sydni Harvey said. “Really, that’s what we need to do, too. We have had a crazy schedule. But our key is remaining consistent, bringing the same energy whether we’re playing a top 10 team or somebody not ranked. We’ve got to do what we do. For sure, though, it’s great to be home.’’
What has happened with the Bulls since they last played at home?
Oh, not too much …
* After leading most of the game, USF fell 52-49 on the road against Tennessee, one of the sport’s most storied programs.
* Following up a 77-63 victory against Syracuse in the Bahamas, the Bulls put a major scare into the No. 2 UConn Huskies, the perennial national champions, and had a three-point lead with seconds remaining in the third quarter. But UConn eventually overtook the Bulls and prevailed 60-53.
* The Bulls then finished the Battle 4 Atlantis by defeating a top 10-ranked team, the No. 9 Oregon Ducks, 71-62, behind a brilliant floor game from Pinzan (26 points, 10 assists, 4-for-4 from 3-point range, 8-for-8 from the free-throw line).
* Before departing the Bahamas, USF faced the No. 7 Stanford Cardinal, the defending national champions, in a specially arranged one-game event. The Bulls stunned Stanford 57-54, winning on Harvey’s 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds remaining.
* USF suffered a disappointing road defeat, falling at UT-Arlington 61-56, but rebounded with Sunday afternoon’s 64-57 victory at VCU when the Bulls rallied from a 16-point deficit midway through the third quarter.
“There have been some ups and downs, but I think we put ourselves in a pretty good situation because of the way we scheduled,’’ said Fernandez, who pointed out that USF currently has the nation’s sixth-best strength of schedule. “We’ve been tested. We learned a lot about ourselves. So far, so good. Now we’ve got to protect our home floor.’’
Fernandez put together an aggressive non-conference schedule, feeling that the high-level competition would benefit his Bulls for March’s postseason. He didn’t intend to spend 34 days away from home, but that’s how the schedule broke.
“It was a tough stretch, but at the same time, we became a tougher team,’’ Pinzan said. “It will be nice to be back in front of our fans, the people who cheer for us.’’
“It was more of a mental thing,’’ Harvey said. “You couldn’t think of how long it was. You had to stay in the present at all times and be at your best for that day. I think we did well and we got some wins that will really pay off for us down the line. Right now, though, it’s about the next game.’’
It’s about facing Stetson before the home fans — and 1,000 school kids who will undoubtedly be ready to make some noise on Education Day. After receiving their own education in mental toughness and overcoming adversity, the Bulls are grateful to be back home and ready to boost their resume even more.
About USF Women’s Basketball
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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.
–#GoBulls –
