The Bulls look to keep their winning ways up as they look for their fourth straight win and #700 all-time.
TAMPA (Jan. 15, 2022) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team closes out its short two-game road stretch on Sunday when it heads east on Interstate-4 for the first edition of the War on I-4 against rival Central Florida. Game time in Addition Financial Arena is slated for 3 p.m. with the game being broadcast live nationally on ESPNU and ESPN+.
The Bulls ranked 24th in this week’s Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Coaches top-25 polls, looks for their fourth straight win and their eighth win in their last nine games. South Florida is also looking for its third win in the last four meetings against the Knights.
In addition, a victory over Central Florida would mark the 700th all-time for the Bulls.
Elena Tsineke leads four players in double-digits in the scoring column, netting 13.8 points per game, and is seventh in The American in scoring. She is joined by Bethy Mununga (10.9 ppg), Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (10.6 ppg), and Sydni Harvey (10.5 ppg). Elisa Pinzan (9.4 ppg) is just shy of averaging double-figure points per game.
Mununga also leads The American, and is eighth in the nation, averaging 11.8 rebounds per game, and is tops in the conference and fifth in the nation in total rebounds (189), while Pinzan is second in the conference, and 19th in the nation in assists per contest dishing out 5.8 per outing and is second in total assists (87) which is good enough for 14th in the nation.
Can’t make it out to catch the Bulls? All USF games will be aired live 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.
Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats | Media Central
GAME 17 | SUN., JAN. 16 | 3 P.M. | ORLANDO, FLA. | ADDITION FINANCIAL ARENA
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPNU
Brenda VenLengen (PxP), Holly Warlick (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: South Florida leads series, 30-14
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: UCFKnights.com / (407) 823-1000
No. 24/24 USF BULLS | 12-4, 2-0 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 12 at Tulane, W, 75-62
Next Game: Jan. 19 vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 404-280 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
CENTRAL FLORIDA KNIGHTS | 11-2, 3-0 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 11 vs. Houston, W, 62-59
Next Game: Jan. 19 at SMU, 8 p.m.
Head Coach: Katie Abrahamson-Henderson
Alma Mater: Iowa, 1990
Career Record: 357-155 (16th season)
at Tulane: 116-47 (Sixth season)
QUICK HITS
– The Bulls are coming off a 75-62 win at Tulane on Jan. 1 … Bethy Mununga poured in a career-high 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu tied her career-high with 23 points … Elena Tsineke chipped in with 12 points in the win.
– South Florida is currently ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, not moving from the previous week … In addition, the Bulls remain at No. 24 in the most recent USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.
SCOUTING CENTRAL FLORIDA
– Central Florida enters the game with the Bulls with an 11-2 record and a 3-0 mark in The American … The Knights have won three-straight games, following their 62-59 win over Houston on Jan. 11.
– Both South Florida and Central Florida share one common nonconference opponent, with both programs having faced Tennessee earlier during the season … The Knights fell to the Lady Vols, 49-41 on Nov. 12, while the Bulls fell, 52-49 in Knoxville on Nov, 15.
– Diamond Battles leads two players in double-figures for the Knights, averaging 12.9 points per game on the year, followed by Tay Sanders’ 11.4 points per outing … Destiny Thomas paces the team on the glass, averaging 8.6 boards per contest … Brittney Smith and Masseny Kaba are each grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE KNIGHTS
– Sunday’s game marks the 45th meeting between South Florida and Central Florida in the War on I-4, with the Bulls holding a 30-14 series lead, dating back to the inaugural meeting in January of 1973.
– The Bulls have won 24 of the last 30 games over the Knights, and two of the last three which includes a 65-62 win on March 2 to win the American Athletic Conference regular-season title, and a 64-54 victory in The American Tournament title game, to win their first conference tournament championship.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– South Florida will return to action, and to the Yuengling Center, on Wednesday, Jan. 19 when its hosts Tulsa at 7 p.m. (ESPN+) on Salute to Service Night, and in the first game of a two-game homestand … The Bulls will close the stretch on Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. against Temple (ESPN+) for our annual We Back Pat game.
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 –
