The duo will be honored before Wednesday’s game against Tulsa in the Yuengling Center.
GAME 30 | WED., FEB. 22, 2023 | 7 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPN+ ($)
Jim Louk (PxP), Leah Secondo (Color)
Audio: The Strike 102.5 HD-2 (TuneIn App/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Color)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: South Florida leads the series, 11-0
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
RV/23 USF BULLS | 24-5 (13-1, AAC)
Last Game: Feb. 18 vs. SMU, W, 70-62
Next Game: March 1 at Cincinnati, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 440-290 (23rd season)
at South Florida: Same
AP/USAT/Net/SOS (Through Feb. 20): RV/23/32/15
TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE | 16-10 (6-7, AAC)
Last Game: Feb. 18 vs. Memphis, L, 69-44
Next Game: Feb. 25 at Houston, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Angie Nelp
Alma Mater: Colorado State, 2002
Career Record: 33-21 (Second season)
at Tulsa: Same
AP/USAT/Net/SOS (Through Feb. 20): -/-/101/244
By Joey Johnston
TAMPA (February 21, 2023) – The USF women’s basketball team will have a special Senior Night on Wednesday at the Yuengling Center when the Bulls bid farewell to two of the most productive players in program history — Elena Tsineke and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu.
“Good people, good students and really, really good players,’’ USF coach Jose Fernandez said. “Two pros. Definitely, two pros.’’
With the American Athletic Conference regular-season title safely in place, before the Bulls (24-5, 13-1) face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (16-10, 6-7) in the home finale, fans will get one more chance to shower affection upon two of the best athletes to ever play for USF women’s basketball.
“I think it will be very emotional,’’ said Tsineke, a 5-foot-7 guard from Greece. “To think this is may be the last game ever at my home, how can that not be extremely emotional? It makes me more determined to go out the right way.’’
“It’s like seeing the end of a tunnel,’’ said Fankam Mendjiadeu, a 6-4 center from Cameroon. “I’m happy because it has been the best time of my life. I’m sad because it’s coming to an end. I don’t know how really feel just yet. I think by the time I’m walking out there; I’m going to be feeling proud.’’
For good reason.
Fankam Mendjiadeu, in her second USF season after transferring from Memphis, is averaging a double-double (16.7 points, 12.6 rebounds) while maturing into one of the nation’s most formidable interior players. She also has 22 double-doubles (with a 34-point game and a 21-rebound game). In four seasons of college basketball, she has 1,470 points and 1,069 rebounds. She’s a two-time second-team All-AAC selection.
Tsineke is averaging a team-leading 17.7 points per game, while shooting 38.6 percent from 3-point range. She has 1,572 career points (seventh all-time at USF), a career free-throw percentage of 83.4 and 84 double-digit scoring games (out of 108 played). She’s a two-time first-team All-AAC selection.
If they are standing side-by-side, you might think, “What could they possibly have in common?’’
Looks can deceive.
“Two different skill-sets, maybe, but a very similar approach,’’ Fernandez said. “The biggest thing they have in common is a relentless work ethic. A lot of players have big dreams, right? But they don’t do the things to fulfill those dreams.
“Dulcy and El are constantly watching film, constantly shooting, constantly doing the right things with their bodies. They get what they deserve because they invest and put in the time.’’
For USF teammates, it’s a positive example.
“You won’t find two players who work harder than Dulcy and El,’’ Bulls point guard Aerial Wilson said. “Such determination. They know what they want and they know how to get it. It’s going to be tough to see them leave (USF), but they deserve every good thing possible because they have given so much to this program.’’
There are plenty of goals still within reach. USF can surpass the program record for victories (27) and win its second AAC Tournament in the past three seasons. It will earn the program’s ninth NCAA Tournament and has the potential to become USF’s first Sweet 16 team.
So Wednesday’s Senior Night is not really the end. It’s more of a milestone, another chapter of a long and fascinating story.
The twist came last season.
Fankam Mendjiadeu was having a very good — not great — year. Mostly, she deferred to Bethy Mununga, the team’s unquestioned interior presence. One day, Tsineke and Fankam Mendjiadeu were shooting free throws together.
“I just kind of told her, ‘Dulcy, to get where you want to go, you need to do more,’ ‘’ Tsineke said. “Some people might not take that well. But she listened. I was like, ‘If you have a dream, you’ve got to do what it takes to raise the heat. Nobody is going to give it to you.’ That was it. But she listened. And she definitely did something about it.’’
Fankam Mendjiadeu dedicated the offseason to changing her body and tirelessly working on her game. She transformed from good to great.
“She (Tsineke) made me ready,’’ Fankam Mendjiadeu said. “I mean, she has been a great supporter of mine. So I’ll be supporting her. I would call her an aspirational leader. Just seeing how hard she works every day, I don’t think I’d be where I am without that example.
“We’re down to our last few games, but our goals haven’t changed. We want to win every game. We want to lead this team. I’m really proud that we’re going to go out together.’’
Tsineke is the quiet, polite woman from Greece who’s a steely-eyed sharp-shooter on the court.
Fankam Mendjiadeu is the smiling, good-natured woman from Cameroon who’s a towering, indomitable presence under the basket.
Take one last look, USF women’s basketball fans. You may never see a duo like them again.
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 is $9.99 monthly or $99.99 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
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF women’s basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
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 –
