Elisa Pinzan, Elena Tsineke and Shae Leverett all net double-figures to lead the Bulls into the title game against Central Florida.
Game Details
-/RV (2) South Florida 58, (6) Houston 50
USF (24-7), Houston (16-15)
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+
2022 Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Semifinals
Fort Worth, Texas | Dickies Arena
FORT WORTH, Texas (March 9, 2022) — For the sixth time in its nine years in the American Athletic Conference, the South Florida women’s basketball team will play for the AAC Tournament title, earning the opportunity after defeating sixth-seeded Houston, 58-50, on Wednesday in the semifinals of the 2022 Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Tournament at Dickies Arena.
The win improves the second-seeded Bulls to 24-7 on the year while the Cougars fall to 16-15.
The victory also sets up the third game of the season between rivals South Florida and Central Florida, after the Knights defeated SMU 61-28 in the first semifinal game of the day. The two teams met last season in the championship game with the Bulls defeating Central Florida, 64-54, for their first-ever conference tournament title.
Elisa Pinzan paced the way for South Florida with 14 points, while Elena Tsineke and Shae Leverett added 11 and 10 points, respectively in the win. Bethy Mununga continued her dominance on the boards grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds to tie the single-game tournament record. Mununga holds the tournament record grabbing 49 rebounds in three games during last year’s championship.
Sydni Harvey got the Bulls out of the gate quickly to start the game hitting two three-point shots in less than four minutes to put South Florida on top and eventually leading wire-to-wire.
After holding a 15-10 advantage at the end of the first quarter, Houston looked to make a run at South Florida early on in the second quarter. The Cougars cut the Bulls’ lead to one point, 19-18, with just over eight minutes left in the half, however, South Florida went on an 11-2 run to take a 30-20 lead on two made free-throws by Harvey. The Cougars would not get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Notable
- Wednesday’s starters for the Bulls were: G Elisa Pinzan, G Sydni Harvey, W Elena Tsineke, F Shae Leverett, and F Bethy Mununga … The Bulls are 6-3 with this lineup.
- South Florida improves to 25-36 all-time in conference tournament play and 17-7 in the American Athletic Conference Tournament … The Bulls have won five-straight AAC Tournament games dating back to last year’s title run.
- The Bulls’ win over Houston improves its record against the Tigers to 19-8 all-time … South Florida also improves to 2-0 against Houston in AAC tournament games, having defeated the Cougars, 72-55, in the 2019 tournament semifinals.
- Elena Tsineke’s 11 points against the Cougars mark her 57th career double-figure scoring game in her 78th career game with the Bulls.
- Bethy Mununga recorded her 55th career double-figure rebounding game with her 18 rebounds against Houston.
- Elisa Pinzan’s 14 points mark her fourth double-figure scoring performance in the last six games and her 12th of the season.
Up Next
South Florida will face Central Florida in the championship game of the 2022 Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, live on ESPNU. The winner will receive The American’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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 –
