Bulls looking forward to getting back on the court after their original conference opener on Sunday was postponed
TAMPA (Jan. 4, 2022) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team heads back on the road as it looks to tipoff American Athletic Conference play on Wednesday at Cincinnati at Fifth Third Arena. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. with the contest being broadcast live on ESPN+ ($).
The Bulls’ original conference opener against Memphis, scheduled for Jan. 2 at the Yuengling Center, was postponed due to health and safety protocols within the South Florida program.
South Florida, ranked 24th in this week’s Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Coaches top-25 polls, looks to get its sixth win in its last seven games when it takes the court against the Bearcats.
The Bulls come into the Cincinnati game looking for their eighth straight conference-opening win, and to improve to 8-1 in AAC openers. South Florida is 12-9 in league openers under Jose Fernandez.
Elena Tsineke leads three players in double-digits in the scoring column, netting 13.4 points per game. Sydni Harvey is also averaging double digits, scoring 11.6 points per outing, and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu is averaging 10.1 points per contest.
Elisa Pinzan and Bethy Mununga are just shy of averaging double-figures, netting 9.7 and 9.5 points per game, respectively.
Mununga leads The American, and is ninth in the nation, averaging 11.6 rebounds per game, while Pinzan is tops in the conference, and 13th in the nation in assists per contest dishing out 5.9 per outing.
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 $69.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
GAME 15 | WED., JAN. 5 | 7 P.M. | CINCINNATI, OHIO | FIFTH THIRD ARENA
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPN+ ($)
Anthony Mazzini (PxP), Jackie Windon (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited 2 (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: South Florida leads series, 21-17
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (877) CATS-TIX (228-7849)
No. 24/24 USF BULLS | 10-4, 0-0 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 2 vs. Memphis, Postponed
Next Game: Jan. 9 vs. Wichita State, 12 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 402-280 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
CINCINNATI BEARCATS | 7-5, 0-0 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 1 at Tulsa, Postponed
Next Game: Jan. 8 vs. Temple, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Michelle Clark-Heard
Alma Mater: Western Kentucky, 1990
Career Record: 239-122 (11th Season)
at Cincinnati: 61-42 (Third Season)
QUICK HITS
– South Florida is coming off a convincing 70-57 win over in-state foe Jacksonville in its nonconference finale on Wednesday afternoon … Elena Tsineke led the way with a game-high 22 points while Bethy Mununga added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
– South Florida is currently ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, falling two spots from the previous week … In addition, the Bulls are No. 24 in the most recent USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.
SCOUTING CINCINNATI
– Cincinnati comes into its game with South Florida with a 7-5 overall record … The Bearcats haven’t played since Dec. 22 at Marquette, a 60-49 loss … Cincinnati had its games against Lipscomb on Dec. 29 canceled and its American Athletic Conference opener at Tulsa on Jan. 1 postponed.
– Arika Levy is one of just two players averaging double figures for the Bearcats, leading the team in scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game … Jillian Hayes is second, netting 11.3 points per contest, and paces the team on the boards, averaging 6.7 rebounds per outing.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE BEARCATS
– Wednesday’s game marks the 39th meeting between USF and Cincinnati with the Bulls leading the all-time series, 21-17 … USF has won 14 of the last 17 games, and is 19-7 in the last 26 meetings against the Bearcats.
– The Bearcats leads the all-time series, 8-7, in games played at Cincinnati.
– USF defeated Cincinnati in both games last season, 73-61, on Dec. 22 at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati and 69-65 in overtime on Feb. 17 in Tampa.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– Following the meeting with Cincinnati, the Bulls will return home to take on Wichita State on Jan. 9 (ESPNU) at noon on International Day.
– South Florida will then travel to Tulane (Jan. 12, ESPN+), and Central Florida (Jan. 16, ESPNU) during the conference-opening five-game stretch.
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 –
