Bethy Mununga has 13 and 12, Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu 11 and 15 and Elena Tsineke has 13 points in the win over the Owls.
Game Details
-/RV South Florida 49, Temple 40
USF (17-6, 7-2 AAC), Temple (11-10, 6-4 AAC)
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Philadelphia, Pa. | McGonigle Hall
TAMPA (Feb. 9, 2022) — The University of South Florida women’s basketball team got back on the winning track on Wednesday night leading wire to wire and grinding out a hard-fought 49-40 win at Temple at McGonigle Hall. The win improves the Bulls to 17-6 on the year and 7-2 in the American Athletic Conference, while the Owls fall to 11-10 overall and 6-4 in league play.
Elena Tsineke dropped in 13 points and the post tandem of Bethy Mununga and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added 13 points and 12 rebounds and 11 points and 15 rebounds, respectively in the win. It was the 10th and fourth double-doubles for Mununga and Fankam Mendjiadeu while Fankam Mendjiadeu’s 15 rebounds fall two short of tying her career-high.
Elisa Pinzan finished just shy of double figures with eight points. In addition, with her first assist of the night, Pinzan became the third player in program history to hand out 500 career assists, joining Shantia Grace (2005-09, 610) and Laia Flores (2014-18, 519).
The Bulls led by 11 points at the break, 28-17, which was their largest advantage of the game. Temple came out in the second half and outscored South Florida, 14-4, to cut the Bulls’ lead to one, 32-31, with just under six minutes to play in the third quarter. The Owls, however, could not take advantage as they only scored five of the final 14 points of the quarter.
South Florida didn’t look back the final 10 minutes taking control and finishing the game on a 6-0 run over the last two minutes.
Notable
- Wednesday’s starters for the Bulls were: G Elisa Pinzan, G Sydni Harvey, W Elena Tsineke, F Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, and F Bethy Mununga … The Bulls are 8-2 with this lineup.
- South Florida’s win over Temple improves its record in the all-time series to 16-3.
- South Florida has won eight of the last nine games against the Owls
- The Bulls’ win is their eighth win in their last 10 games and 12th in their last 15 outings.
- Elena Tsineke’s 13 points against Temple marks her 51st career double-figure scoring game in her 70th career game with the Bulls.
- Bethy Mununga recorded her 50th career double-figure rebounding game with her 13 rebounds against the Owls … In addition, her 13 points along with her 12 rebounds marks her 30th career double-double with the Bulls.
- Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu’s 11 points and 15 boards mark her 30th career double-double.
- Shae Leverett played in her 139th career game, tying her for first all-time in program history with Shalethia Stringfield (2011-16) … She is set to become the program’s all-time leader on Sunday in South Florida’s game against Central Florida.
Up Next
USF returns to the Yuengling Center for a major match-up with Central Florida in the second game this season in the War on I-4. Tipoff against the Knights is slated for 2 p.m. on ESPN2. The meeting with Central Florida will begin a four-game in a six-game stretch that will be played in the Yuengling Center.
For tickets call (800) Go-Bulls or head to USFBullsTix.com.
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 –
