The Bulls look to get back on the winning track in hopes for a matchup against No. 2-ranked UConn.
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (Nov. 18, 2021) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team gets back to work on Saturday when it takes to the hardwood to face Syracuse in the first round of the inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis at the Atlantis Paradise Island. Tipoff against the Orange is slated for 2:30 p.m.
The winner of the USF-Syracuse game will face the winner of the game between No. 2 UConn and Minnesota at 5 p.m. on Sunday. The losers will meet at 12 p.m. Games on Saturday and Sunday will be televised live on FloHoops (pay service), while the championship game and third place games will air on ESPN2 and ESPNU, respectively.
GAME FOUR | SAT., NOV. 20 | 2:30 P.M. | BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS 1ST RND. | PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: FloHoops ($)
Jill Painter Lopez (PxP), Ali Jaques (Color), Dani Wexelman (Sideline)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: USF leads, 6-5
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
NO. 23 USF BULLS | 2-1
Last Game: Nov. 15 at No. 16 Tennessee, W, 52-49
Next Game: Nov. 21 vs. UConn/Minnesota, Time TBA
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 394-277 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
SYRACUSE ORANGE | 2-1
Last Game: Nov. 17 vs. Morgan State, W, 79-60
Next Game: Nov. 21 vs. UConn/Minnesota, Time TBA
Acting Head Coach: Vonn Read
Alma Mater: Clark Atlanta, 1997
Career Record: 1-1 (First season)
at Syracuse: 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 SYRACUSE
– Syracuse comes into the Battle 4 Atlantis with a 2-1 record following its 79-60 win over Morgan State on Wednesday night … Teisha Hyman led four players in double figures with a game-high 23 points, while Christianna Carr added 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds … Alaysia Styles and Naje Murray rounded out the double-figure scorers, netting 12 and 10 points, respectively.
– Hyman and Styles lead the Orange in scoring, averaging 14.0 and 11.3 points per game, respectively Christianna Carr and Chrislyn Carr are third and fourth in scoring, netting 11.0 and 10.3 points per contest … Hyman also leads the team on the glass, grabbing 7.7 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE ORANGE
– Saturday’s game marks the 12th meeting between South Florida and Syracuse, who were BIG EAST Conference foes from the 2005-06 season through the 2012-13 campaign … The Bulls currently hold a slight 6-5 edge in the all-time series.
– Despite winning four of the last six games against the Orange, Syracuse has taken two of the last three meetings.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– Following the meeting with the Orange on day one of the Battle 4 Atlantis, the Bulls will face either former BIG EAST and American Athletic Conference foe UConn, before closing out the inaugural event on Nov. 22 against one of four teams; South Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, or Buffalo.
– South Florida closes out its stay in the Bahamas against defending national champion Stanford on Nov. 26 in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship … Tipoff against the Cardinal, on Black Friday, is slated for noon.
– The Bulls close out their seven-game road stretch at UT Arlington on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. ET, and then at defending Atlantic 10 champion VCU on Dec. 12 at 1 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 –
