The Bulls look to get back on the winning track as they aim for their 700th win all-time.
TAMPA (Jan. 18, 2022) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team returns to the Yuengling Center for the first time since Dec. 29 as it hosts Tulsa on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (ESPN+) in the lone meeting between the two schools this season. The Bulls are looking for their eighth win in their last 10 games.
This marks South Florida’s first American Athletic Conference game at home. The last two home games, against Memphis on Jan. 2 and Wichita State on Jan. 9, were postponed due to health and safety protocols within the programs.
The Bulls look to improve to 10-0 all-time against Tulsa.
In addition, a victory over the Golden Hurricane would mark the 700th all-time for the Bulls.
Elena Tsineke leads four players in double-digits in the scoring column, netting 13.7 points per game, and is seventh in The American in scoring. She is joined by Bethy Mununga (10.9 ppg), Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (10.8 ppg), and Sydni Harvey (10.1 ppg). Elisa Pinzan (8.8 ppg) is just shy of averaging double-figure points per game.
Mununga also leads The American, and is eighth in the nation, averaging 11.8 rebounds per game, and is tops in the conference and fifth in the nation in total rebounds (200), while Pinzan is first in the conference, and 22nd in the nation in assists per contest dishing out 5.7 per outing and tops in The American in total assists (91) which is good enough for 18th in the nation.
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GAME 18 | WED., JAN. 19 | 7 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPN+ ($)
Jim Louk (PxP), Leah Secondo (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Color)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: South Florida leads series, 9-0
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
RV/RV USF BULLS | 12-5, 2-1 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 16 at Central Florida, L, 67-51
Next Game: Jan. 22 vs. Temple, 3 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 404-281 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE | 12-2, 2-1 AAC
Last Game: Jan. 11 vs. East Carolina, W, 71-59
Next Game: Jan. 22 vs. SMU, 1 p.m.
Head Coach: Angie Nelp
Alma Mater: Colorado State, 2002
Career Record: 12-2 (First season)
at Tulsa: Same
QUICK HITS
– South Florida comes into Wednesday’s game against the Golden Hurricane, looking for its 700th win in program history.
– The Bulls are coming off a tough 67-51 loss at Central Florida on Jan. 16 … Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Bethy Mununga scored 12 points and hauled down 11 boards … Elena Tsineke also had 12 points in the setback.
– South Florida is currently receiving votes (14) in the Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Coaches (24) Top 25 poll.
SCOUTING TULSA
– Tulsa enters the game with the Bulls with a 12-2 record and a 2-1 mark in The American after its 71-59 win over East Carolina on Jan. 11 … The Golden Hurricane is 2-2 after starting the season 10-0.
– Maya Mayberry leads four players in double figures in the scoring column for Tulsa, averaging 14.8 points per game on the year, followed closely by sister Wyvette, netting 14.1 points per contest …Temira Poindexter and Rebecca Lescay round out the double-digit scorers, averaging 11.9 and 10.0 points per game, respectively … Maddie Bittle leads the Golden Hurricane on the glass, grabbing 5.1 rebounds per outing.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE GOLDEN HURRICANE
– Wednesday’s game with Tulsa marks the 10th meeting between USF and the Golden Hurricane with the Bulls holding a 9-0 series lead, dating back to the inaugural meeting in February of 2015.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– South Florida closes out its short two-game homestand on Saturday against Temple in its annual We Back Pat game … Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. (ESPN+).
– Following the game with the Owls, the Bulls head back on the road for back-to-back games in the Lone Star state at SMU on Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+) and then at Houston on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. (ESPN+) before returning 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 –
