Bulls begin three-game in three-day quest on Thanksgiving against the Jackrabbits.
CANCUN, Mexico (Nov. 27, 2019) – No. 21/20 USF hits the road for Thanksgiving week to take part in the 2019 Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya Hotel, Nov. 28-30. The Bulls open the three-day event with South Dakota State on Thursday, at 11 a.m., followed by Florida Gulf Coast on Friday (1:30 p.m.) and 2019 NCAA runner-up Notre Dame on Saturday (11 a.m.).
GAME SEVEN | THURS., NOV. 28, 2019 | 11 A.M. | CANCUN, MEXICO
21/20 USF BULLS | 5-1
Last Game: Nov. 24 vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) L, 62-23
Next Game: Nov. 29 vs. FGCU, 1:30 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 359-270 (20th season)
at USF: Same
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE JACKRABBITS | 3-2
Last Game: Nov. 23 vs. Wyoming, W, 67-40
Next Game: Nov. 29 vs. Notre Dame, 11 a.m.
Head Coach: Aaron Johnston
Alma Mater: Gustavus Adolphus, 1994
Career Record: 473-159 (20th season)
at South Dakota State: Same
GAMEDAY INFOMATION
TV/Video: FloHoops (GoUSFBulls.com)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: First meeting
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
QUICK HITS
– The Bulls have started the season at least 5-1 for the second time in the last three years and only the fifth time in the last 10 seasons.
– USF is coming off a dominating 62-23 win over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 24 … Shae Leverett led the way with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Elena Tsineke had a game high 13 points in her first collegiate contest … Tamara Henshaw added 10 points.
– USF is currently ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, up one spot from last week … In addition, the Bulls are 20th this week in the USA Today/WBCA 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.
– Following the Bulls’ trip to Cancun for the Cancun Challenge, Nov. 28-30, they will return to the Yuengling Center to face Alabama State on Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m. for Celebrate Tampa Bay Day … The first 500 fans will receive USF foam fingers, while Zoo Tampa and the Florida Aquarium 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.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– USF continues its play in the Cancun Challenge on Friday against Sunshine State foe Florida Gulf Coast at 1:30 p.m. … The Bulls close out the event against NCAA national runner-up Notre Dame on Nov. 30 at 11 a.m.
– Following Cancun, the Bulls will return home for two-straight games against Alabama State on Dec. 6 (5:30 p.m.) and Idaho on Dec. 16 (1 p.m.).
– The Green and Gold close out their games before the Christmas break in the Duel in the Desert, Dec. 19-21, in Las Vegas, Nevada … The Bulls will take on 2019 NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed, Mississippi State on Dec. 19 (7 p.m.) and either the host UNLV or Virginia on Dec. 21 (3/5 p.m.).
A QUICK LOOK AT THE BULLS
– On Monday, Bethy Mununga was named to the weekly American Athletic Conference Honor Roll … It is the second-straight week she was recognized … Mununga averaged 12.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in the Bulls’ two outings against No. 2/2 Baylor (Nov. 19) and Saint Francis (Pa.) (Nov. 24) while shooting 55.6 percent (10-for-18) from the field … She posted a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double in USF’s battle with Baylor, adding an assist, a block and three steals, and added eight points and six rebound in 21 minutes against Saint Francis.
– The Bulls lead, or are second, in the American Athletic Conference in several statistical categories through games of Nov. 26:
Scoring Defense: 1st (47.5)
Scoring Margin: 2nd (+15.3)
FG Percentage Defense: 2nd (31.5%)
3-Point FG Percentage Defense: 1st (21.8%)
3-Point FG Made: 2nd (39)
3-Pt FG Attempted: 2nd (127)
Total Rebounds: 1st (264)
Rebounding Defense: 1st (31.5)
Rebounding Margin: 1st (+12.5)
Offensive Rebounding: 2nd (17.7)
– Elene Tsineke saw her first action in the green and gold 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 poured in a game high 13 points, in 21 minutes, against Saint Francis (Pa.) … She shot 4-for-8 (50.0 percent) from the field, including 1-for-2 (50.0 percent) from behind the three-point arc and 4-of-5 (80.0 percent) from the line.
– Bethy Mununga comes into Thursday’s game averaging a double-double through the first six games of the season … Her 12.5 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per outing are second and first on the team, respectively … She has scored in double figures in five or USF’s six games, including a career-high 16 points against Baylor to go along with a career-high tying 12 rebounds … She’s shooting 66.0 percent (33-for-50) from the field on the year which is good enough for first in The American and 16th nationally.
– Mununga has recorded a double-double in four of the Bulls’ six games … She is first in The American, and fifth in the nation, in double-doubles through Nov. 26.
– Enna Pehadzic is third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game on the year while shooting 35.5 percent (22-for-62) from the field, including 45.2 percent (19-for-42) from behind the arc … Her 19 three’s made is first in The American and 17th in the nation … She has led the team in scoring in three of the Bulls’ six 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 9.3 points and 2.8 assists per game, respectively … She recorded a career afternoon, pouring in 20 points against VCU on Nov. 15 … She is shooting 38.5 percent (20-for-52) from the field and 32.5 percent (13-for-40) from behind the three-point arc.
– 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 third in the AAC in total assists (30) and second in assists per game, dishing out 5.0 per contest.
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
– South Dakota State comes into Thursday’s game with a 3-2 record after its 67-40 win over Wyoming on Nov. 23 … The Jackrabbits have won their last three games after dropping two-straight to open the season.
– Palton Burckhard is one of two players averaging double figures in the scoring column, netting 15.0 points per game … Myah Selland is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per outing to go along with her team high 6.0 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE RED FLASH
Thursday marks the first meeting between USF and South Dakota State.
LAST TIME OUT
– No. 22/23 USF got back on the winning track with a dominating 62-23 win over Saint Francis (Pa.) at the Yuengling Center on Nov. 24. The Bulls improve to 5-1 on the year while the Red Flash drops to 1-5.
– Saint Francis’ 23 points mark a share for the 11th fewest points allowed in a game, by USF, while the Red Flash’s 10 second half points is tied for the eighth fewest allowed in a half.
– Elena Tsineke led the way with a game high 13 points, in just 20 minutes of play, in her first collegiate game.
– Shae Leverett had 12 points and a game high 13 rebounds for here first double-double of the season and the sixth of her career … Leverett was 5-for-8 from the field, and 2-for-4 from the free-throw line, while seven of her 13 rebounds came on the offensive glass … Fellow post player Tamara Henshaw chipped in with 10 points in the win.
– Leading by just five points at the end of the first quarter, 16-11, the Bulls hit a different gear in the second quarter – and ultimately until the end of the game – holding Saint Francis to just 1-for-28 shooting from the field from the second period to the final buzzer … The Red Flash hit a three-point shot with 1:24 left in the first quarter and Saint Francis did not hit another shot from the floor until 3:35 left in the game … USF outscored SFU, 16-2 in the second, 20-4 in the third and 10-6 in the final quarter.
– #GoBulls –
About USF Women’s Basketball
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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.
