The Bulls renew old BIG EAST acquaintances as they look for their fourth-straight win.
TAMPA (Dec. 19, 2021) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team heads back on the road for two games to take part in the West Palm Beach Invitational, hosted by Keiser University at the Keiser Flagship Campus. The Bulls will face West Virginia on Monday, the first day of competition, before closing out the event against Ole Miss on Tuesday. Both games played on Massimino Court at the Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center, tip-off at 1:15 p.m., and can be seen live on FloHoops ($).
Click here for West Palm Beach Invitational Tournament Central.
South Florida, ranked 16th in this week’s Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Coaches top-25 polls, looks to get its fourth-straight win and its sixth win in its last seven games when it takes the court against the Mountaineers, an old BIG EAST Conference foe of the Bulls.
Sydni Harvey leads four players in double-digits in the scoring column, netting 12.4 points per game. Elena Tsineke is also averaging double digits, netting 12.2 points per outing. Elisa Pinzan and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu round out the double-figure scorers, netting 10.5 and 10.4 points per game, respectively.
Bethy Mununga leads The American, and is ninth in the nation, averaging 11.9 rebounds per game, while Pinzan is tops in the conference, and seventh in the nation in assists per contest dishing out 6.4 per outing.
GAME 12 | MON., DEC. 20 | 1:15 P.M. | WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: FloHoops ($)
James Westling (PxP), Jennifer George (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: West Virginia leads series, 6-1
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: KUSeahawks.com
No. 16/16 USF BULLS | 8-3
Last Game: Dec. 17 vs. High Point, W, 62-46
Next Game: Dec. 21 vs. Ole Miss, 1:15 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 400-279 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS | 6-2
Last Game: Dec. 9 at James Madison, W, 75-68 (ot)
Next Game: Dec. 21 vs. Michigan State, 11 a.m.
Head Coach: Mike Carey
Alma Mater: Salem, 1980
Career Record: 726-328 (34th season)
at West Virginia: 438-226 (21st season)
QUICK HITS
– Head coach Jose Fernandez, in his 22nd season leading the Bulls, notched his 400th career win on Friday night against High Point … Fernandez has posted 10-straight seasons of 19-plus wins.
– USF is coming off a 62-46 win over High Point on Friday closing out its two-game homestand … Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu had 19 points, and Bethy Mununga and Elena Tsineke had 16 and 14 points, respectively … Elisa Pinzan dished out 10 assists.
– South Florida is currently ranked No. 16 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, climbing one spot from the previous week … In addition, the Bulls are No. 16 in the most recent USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
– West Virginia comes into Monday’s game with a 6-2 record and winners of its last two games, including a 75-68 overtime win in its last game at James Madison on Dec 12 … The Mountaineers began the season 4-0.
– Kirsten Deans leads the Mountaineers in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game, while Esmery Martinez is netting 11.8 points per outing and a team-high 8.6 rebounds per contest.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE MOUNTAINEERS
– Monday’s game marks the eighth meeting all-time between South Florida and West Virginia with the Mountaineers leading the series, 6-1 … WVU has won six-straight in the series.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– Following the meeting with West Virginia, South Florida will play its last game before the holiday break on Tuesday against Ole Miss on the final day of the West Palm Beach Invitational … Tip-off is at 1:15 p.m. and it can be seen on FloHoops (&).
– South Florida will close out its 2021-22 nonconference slate on Dec. 29 at the Yuengling Center against Jacksonville … Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.
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 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 –
