Bethy Mununga pours in a career-high 26 points and grabs 12 rebounds, while Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu nets 23 points.
Game Details
No. 24/24 South Florida 75, Tulane 62
USF (12-4, 2-0 AAC), Tulane (8-5, 0-2 AAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+
New Orleans, La. | Fogelman Arena
NEW ORLEANS (AP) (Jan. 12, 2022) — Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu scored 23 points, Bethy Mununga recorded a double-double and No. 24-ranked South Florida continued its mastery of Tulane beating the Green Wave 75-62 on Wednesday night at Fogelman Arena.
The Bulls (12-4, 2-0 AAC) appeared poised to pull away when Elena Tsineke’s basket gave South Florida a 58-48 lead with 6:57 left.
But Tulane (8-5, 0-2 AAC) responded with an 8-2 run and were within 60-56 with 4:54 to go. South Florida, however, countered with a 11-4 spurt to stop Tulane’s threat.
Mununga scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Tsineke scored 12. It was Mununga’s second 20-point performance in the last three games and the third of her career.
South Florida made 22-of-25 foul shots, going 11-for-11 before a miss, compared to 25 for 34 for Tulane.
Arsula Clark scored 17 points and Dynah Jones 16 for Tulane.
South Florida now has won 19 straight against the Green Wave. Tulane hasn’t beaten South Florida since Dec. 17, 2009. The Bulls lead the overall series 28-19.
The Green Wave have dropped 25 straight against ranked opponents.
Story courtesy of Associated Press. USF athletics communications contributed to this recap.
Stat of the Day
40-20 – The Bulls dominated the paint, scoring 40 of their 75 points in the lane.
73.9 & 93.7 – The post tandem of Bethy Mununga and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu combined for a remarkable 73.9 percent (17-for-23) from the field and 93.7 percent (15-for-16) from the free-throw line in the win over Tulane. Mununga finished 8-for-12 from the field and a near-perfect 10-for-11 from the charity stripe, while Fankam Mendjiadeu was 9-for-11 from the floor and a perfect 5-for-5 from the line.
Notable
- Wednesday’s starters for the Bulls were: G Maria Alvarez, G Sydni Harvey, W Elena Tsineke, F Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, and F Bethy Mununga … The Bulls are 3-1 with this lineup.
- The win over Tulane on Wednesday night improves South Florida’s record to 28-19 all-time against the Green Wave … In addition, the victory is the 19th-straight against Tulane and the 22nd win in the last 23 meetings.
- In addition, the win over Tulane gives the Bulls 699 wins all-time in program history.
- Elena Tsineke’s 12 points against Cincinnati was her 44th career double-figure scoring game in her 63rd career game … In addition, it was her 12th career 20-plus point performance with the Bulls and her fourth in the last five games
- Bethy Mununga recorded her 45th career double-figure rebounding game with her game-high 12 rebounds against the Green Wave … In addition, she also recorded her 26th career double-double, her third-straight, and her fourth in the last five games.
Up Next
Following the meeting at Tulane, South Florida will head east on Interstate-4 for the first edition of the War on I-4 against Central Florida on Sunday at 3 p.m. (ESPNU) before returning home for two-straight at the Yuengling Center against Tulsa on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. (ESPN+) and Temple on Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. (ESPN+).
For tickets call (800) Go-Bulls or head to USFBullsTix.com.
About USF Women’s Basketball
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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 –
