Bulls put new Top 25 ranking on the line against the Bison.
TAMPA (Nov. 11, 2019) – The No. 25-ranked University of South Florida women’s basketball team returns to the Yuengling Center on Tuesday as it hosts Howard in the third of four straight games at home to open the 2019-20 campaign. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. The Bulls look to begin the season 3-0 for the fourth straight year as they face the Bison for the first time. The contest also will be the third game in a seven-day stretch for USF, which also faced Jacksonville (W, 70-39) in the season opener on Nov. 5 and No. 15 Texas (W, 64-57) on Nov. 8.
GAME THREE | TUE., NOV. 12, 2019 | 7 P.M. | YUENGLING CENTER, TAMPA, FLA.
NO. 25/RV USF BULLS | 2-0
Last Game: Nov. 8 vs. No. 15/15 Texas, W, 64-57
Next Game: Nov. 15 vs. VCU, 11 a.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 356-259 (20th season)
at USF: Same
HOWARD BISON | 1-1
Last Game: Nov. 9 at UMBC, W, 72-59
Next Game: Nov. 17 vs. Saint Peter’s, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Ty Grace
Alma Mater: New Haven, 1999
Career Record: 119-115 (Ninth season)
at Howard: 54-70 (Fifth season)
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: BullsVision (GoUSFBulls.com)
Jim Louk (PxP)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Bridgit Merenda (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: First meeting
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: 1-800-GoBulls
QUICK HITS
– Tuesday’s meeting with the Bison is the third of five home games that USF will play in its first six outings … Following the game against Howard, the Bulls will take on VCU on Friday at 11 a.m.
– USF comes into the game against Howard following a 64-57 win over No. 15/15 Texas on Nov. 8 … Enna Pehadzic dropped in 16 points to lead the Bulls, while Bethy Mununga grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds … The win was USF’s first against a ranked team since defeating No. 13/13 Ohio State, 84-65, on Feb. 11, 2018.
– USF comes into this week as the newest team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll … The Bulls moved into the No. 25 slot following their 64-57 win over No. 15/15 Texas … USF collected nine votes in the preseason AP poll and five votes in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Top 25 poll … The first coaches poll will not be release until next week.
TICKET & PROMOTION INFORMATION
– For ticket questions or to purchase tickets, please visit USFBullsTix.com or call 1-800-GoBulls … Season and single-game tickets are available, however, courtside seats are sold out for the 2019-20 season.
– Tuesday’s game against Howard will mark USF’s annual International Night, an extremely popular night for the Bulls … All fans will receive USF basketball schedule magnets and pom-poms entering the Yuengling Center.
– The final game of the Bulls’ four-game season-opening homestand, against VCU on Nov. 15, will be Elementary School Day … Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. … There will be free admission to elementary schools, poster giveaways and a poster signing following the game … In addition, all elementary school children will get a USF athletics workbook.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– The Bulls will close out their four-game homestand on Friday, Nov. 15, with an 11 a.m. elementary school “field trip” matinee against VCU at 11 a.m.
– USF will hit the road for the first time during the 2019-20 season when it travels to the Lone Star State to face defending national champion and second-ranked Baylor on Nov. 19 … Tip-off in Waco is 8 p.m. ET with the game airing on ESPN+.
– The Green and Gold return to the Yuengling Center on Nov. 24 when they take on Saint Francis (Pa.) … Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
SCOUTING HOWARD
– Howard comes into its meeting with USF with a 1-1 record following a 72-61 win at UMBCon Nov. 9 … The Bison picked up their first win following a 78-62 loss in their season-opener on Nov. 5 … Tuesday’s game is the second of 10 road contests that Howard will play in its first 14 games of the season.
– Aysonna Williams is one of four Howard players averaging double figures in the early going of the season, averaging 16.0 points per game, while Jayla Thornton is second, netting 15.5 points per contest … Sarah Edmond and Kristyn Marsh are third and fourth, averaging 13.0 and 10.0 points, respectively.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE BISON
– Tuesday’s game marks the first-ever meeting between USF and Howard.
LAST TIME OUT
– Poised from the opening tip, USF led for nearly 31 minutes and withstood a late rally to take down No. 15/15 Texas, 64-57, before an electric crowd of 2,289 at the Yuengling Center on Nov. 8 … Clinging to a two-point advantage, USF (2-0) was clutch in the final 20 seconds, going 7-for-8 from the free throw line to seal the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since an 84-65 home victory over No. 13/13 Ohio State on Feb. 11, 2018.
– Enna Pehadzic led the way again with a team-high 16 points after putting the Bulls ahead for good with a three-pointer inside four minutes to play … Pehadzic closed the game with three free throws in the final seven seconds … It was USF’s first win over Texas in two meetings.
– Bethy Mununga led the fourth-quarter charge with eight points along with two big blocks … She finished the game with 12 points, a team-high eight rebounds and three blocks after posting a double-double in her USF debut against Jacksonville on Nov. 5.
– Maria Alvarez chipped in with eight points, and Tamara Henshaw scored all six of her points in the second half and grabbed four rebounds to help USF finish with a 34-31 edge on the glass.
PEHADZIC NAMES AAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
– Enna Pehadzic was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 10, the league announced on Mov. 11 … It is Pehadzic’s first such weekly honor.
– Pehadzic picked up where she left off from last season, averaging 18 points per game in USF’s 2-0 opening week, including a 64-57 win over No. 15 Texas … She led the Bulls in scoring in both games, dropping 20 points in the season opener, a 70-39 victory against Jacksonville on Nov. 5, on 6-of-12 shooting from the field … All of her field goals came from beyond the arc … Against the Longhorns on Nov. 8, Pehadzic scored 16 points that included another trio of three-pointers … USF’s defeat of Texas marked the Bulls’ first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 11, 2018, when it defeated No. No. 13 Ohio State, 84-65.
– #GoBulls –
About USF Women’s Basketball
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USF notched its eighth consecutive 19-win season and eighth straight postseason appearance in 2018-19. The Bulls celebrated two all-conference honorees in Enna Pehadzic and Sydni Harvey.
USF has made 15 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 19 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 more than 350 games.
