The Bulls will close out the stretch at Houston on Sunday.
TAMPA (Jan. 25, 2022) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team hits the road for a crucial two-game stretch as the Bulls travel to the Lone Star State to face SMU on Wednesday. Tipoff at Moody Coliseum is slated for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+ $). South Florida will close out the stretch at Houston on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
South Florida looking for its third straight win, its sixth win in its last seven games, and 10th in its last 12 outings when it takes the court with the Mustangs.
In addition, the Bulls look to improve to an impressive 14-1 all-time against SMU all-time.
Elena Tsineke leads three players in double-digits in the scoring column, netting 15.2 points per game, and is fourth in The American in scoring after her game-high 25-point performance against Temple on Saturday afternoon in the Bulls’ 75-67 overtime win. Tsineke is joined by Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (11.4 ppg) and Bethy Mununga (10.5 ppg), while Sydni Harvey (9.4 ppg) falls just shy of double figures. Elisa Pinzan is netting 8.4 points per game.
Mununga also leads The American and is 14th in the nation, averaging 11.4 rebounds per game, and is tops in the conference and fifth in the nation in total rebounds (216). Pinzan is first in the conference, and 14th in the nation in assists per contest dishing out 5.9 per outing, and first in The American in total assists (106) which is also good enough for 14th in the nation.
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GAME 20 | WED., JAN. 26 | 8 P.M. ET | DALLAS, TEXAS | MOODY COLISEUM
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPN+ ($)
John Liddle (PxP), Stephen Howard (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited 2 (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: South Florida leads series, 13-1
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: smumustangs.evenue.net
-/RV USF BULLS | 14-5, 4-1 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 22 vs. Temple, W, 75-67 (ot)
Next Game: Jan. 30 at Houston, 4 p.m. ET
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 406-281 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
SMU MUSTANGS | 9-6, 3-0 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 26 at Tulsa, Postponed
Next Game: Feb. 3 at ECU, 5 p.m.
Head Coach: Toyelle Wilson
Alma Mater: Manhattan, 2003
Career Record: 63-49 (Third Season)
at SMU: 8-6 (First Season)
QUICK HITS
– The Bulls come into their meeting at SMU looking for their third-straight win, their sixth win in their last seven outings, and 10th in their last 12 games … USF is 13-1 all-time against the Mustangs.
– South Florida is looking for its 100th win as a member of the American Athletic Conference.
– USF is coming off a thrilling 75-67 overtime win over Temple on Saturday … Elena Tsineke had another big game with 25 points while Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added 16 points … Bethy Mununga and Elisa Pinzan had 11and 10, respectively.
– South Florida is currently receiving votes in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches (25) Top 25 poll.
SCOUTING SMU
– SMU enters the game with the Bulls with a 9-6 record and a 3-0 mark in The American … The Mustangs have won their last five-straight games played and six of their last seven after starting the season 3-5 … SMU, however, has had their last two games against Central Florida and Tulsa postponed due to COVID-19 issues.
– Savannah Wilkinson leads three players in double figures in the scoring column for SMU, averaging 15.5 points per game on the year, to go along with her team-high 10.6 rebounds per game which is also second in The American behind South Florida’s Bethy Mununga (11.3 rpg) … Kayla White is second on the team in scoring, netting 14.3 points per game, and Sydne Wiggins is third averaging 10.9 points per contest.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE MUSTANGS
– Wednesday marks the 15th meeting between SMU and South Florida, with the Bulls holding a commanding 13-1 lead in the all-time series … Its lone loss came during the 2017-18 campaign, 46-44, on Jan. 26, 2018 … Prior to the setback, the Bulls had won 12-straight dating back to the 2001-02 campaign.
– Wednesday’s game, however, will be the first meeting between the two schools since the 2019-20 season … SMU shut its season down last year due to COVID-19 issues.
UP NEXT FOR USF
Following the game with SMU, the Bulls will return to Tampa before heading back to the Lone Star State to face Houston on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET (ESPNU) … South Florida will return home to face Tulane on Feb. 6 at noon.
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 –
