The Bulls look for their second-straight win before heading out on a seven-game road stretch against some of the nation’s top teams.
TAMPA (Nov. 10, 2021) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team returns to the hardwood on Thursday to close out its short two-game season-opening homestand when Alabama State visits the Yuengling Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. with the game airing on ESPN+. The Bulls will not return home until Dec. 15 when they face Stetson at 11 a.m., following a seven-game road stretch, that begins on Monday night at No. 15/12 Tennessee in Knoxville (6:30 p.m., SECN+)
During Thursday’s game, the Bulls will honor USF great, and WNBA All-Star, Courtney Williams. Williams will be inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday.
A 2016 WBCA First Team All-American and two-time honorable mention All-American by both the WBCA (2014-15) and Associated Press (2015-16), Williams left an indelible mark on the USF women’s basketball program as she helped lead the team to four straight 20-win seasons, four postseason appearances (including three NCAA Tournament second-round appearances and a WNIT semifinal appearance) and a 96-42 record (69.5 winning percentage) during her four-year career.
Click here to read the complete USF Athletics Hall of Fame release about Williams’ career.
Can’t make it out to catch the Bulls? All USF home games will be aired line on ESPN+. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app are $6.99 monthly or $69.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
GAME TWO | THUR., NOV. 11 | 7 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV: 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, 2-0
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
No. 21/22 USF BULLS | 1-0
Last Game: Nov. 9 vs. UTRGV, W, 63-56
Next Game: Nov. 15 at Tennessee 6:30 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 393-276 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
ALABAMA STATE HORNETS | 0-1
Last Game: Nov. 9 at Mississippi State, L, 91-62
Next Game: Nov. 16 at Auburn, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Freda Freeman-Jackson
Alma Mater: Alabama State, 1984
Career Record: 333-342 (24th season)
at Alabama State: Same
QUICK HITS
– The Bulls will honor USF great, and WNBA All-Star, Courtney Williams during the game … Williams will be inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday.
– The Bulls are coming off a 63-56 win over UTRGV in the season-opener on Tuesday night … Elena Tsineke poured in a game-high 18 points while Sydni Harvey added 13 points and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu had 10 … Bethy Mununga grabbed 18 rebounds.
– USF opens the 2021-22 campaign ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Top 25 polls … The Bulls are No. 21 in the preseason AP and No. 22 in the Coaches Polls.
A LOOK AT ALABAMA STATE
– Alabama State comes into its game with South Florida on the heels of a 91-62 loss at Mississippi State on Tuesday night … Tamia Stallings and Farrah Pearson each netted a team-high 11 points, while Ayana Emmanuel chipped in with 10 points.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE HORNETS
– Thursday night will mark the third meeting all-time between USF and Alabama State, with the Bulls holding a 2-0 series advantage.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– After this week’s back-to-back games to open the season, the Bulls will head to Knoxville, Tenn. to face No. 15/12 Tennessee on Nov. 15 in the AAC/SEC Shootout at Thompson-Boling Arena … Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. and the game can be seen on SEC Network+ … The game with the Lady Vols will be the first game of a five-game road stretch that will include four games in the Bahamas in the inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis (3 games), Nov. 20-22, and one in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship against defending national champion Stanford on Nov. 26.
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 –
