Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu pours in a career-high 32 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the setback.
Game Details
No. 3/4 Ohio State 88, -/RV USF 86 (OT)
USF (10-4), Ohio State (12-0)
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 | 6:30 p.m. ET | FloSports
San Diego, Calif. | Pechanga Arena
South Florida Athletics Communications contributed to this recap.
SAN DIEGO (Dec. 20, 2022) (AP) — Taylor Thierry made a driving layup with 5 seconds left in overtime, and No. 3 Ohio State closed with an 8-0 run in the final minute of the extra period to rally past South Florida 88-86 in the San Diego Invitational on Tuesday.
Cotie McMahon scored 30 points and assisted on Thierry’s decisive shot. Taylor Mikesell shook off a horrific shooting night to make a tying 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in OT for the Buckeyes (12-0), who are off to their best start since they won their first 15 games in 2011-12.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu had a monster game with a career-high 34 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls (10-4), who led 86-80 with a minute left in OT before Eboni Walker started the Buckeyes’ rally with a layup.
Ohio State held Fankam Mendjiadeu without a field goal in overtime. She converted two free throws with 2:38 left for her final points.
Mikesell had been 0-for-6 from 3-point range before her tying basket. She finished 2 of 13 from the field and scored eight points.
After Mikesell’s 3, South Florida was looking for the game-winner when Sammie Puisis lost control of the ball, which went out of bounds beneath the basket. Ohio State raced downcourt and Thierry edged inside with the winning bucket.
Puisis, who finished with 20 points, also missed a 3-pointer for the Bulls with 9 seconds left in regulation and the game tied at 75-all.
South Florida led 21-11 after the first quarter and was still ahead by nine, 55-46, at the end of the third. Puisis made a 3 with 6 seconds left in the period.
Joining Fankam Mendjiadeu and Puisis with double-figures in the scoring column was Elena Tsineke with 17 points.
Notable
- Tuesday’s starters for the Bulls were: G Elena Tsineke, G Aerial Wilson, F Sammie Puisis, F Carla Brito and F Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu … The Bulls are 8-4 with this lineup.
- Elena Tsineke’s 17 points against Ohio State mark her 70th career double-figure scoring game in her 93rd career game with the Bulls.
- Tsineke’s first assist of the game marked her 200th career assist.
- Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu’s career-high 32 points and 17 rebounds mark her 41ST career double-double and her 16th game in a South Florida uniform.
- Fankam Mendjiadeu recorded one blocked shot on the night which marked her 100th or her career.
- Florida State transfer and former McDonald’s High School All-American Sammie Puisis’ 20 points was her sixth career game of 20-or-more points, all coming at South Florida.
- Ole Miss transfer Caitlin McGee played in her first game for the Bulls after missing the first 13 due to injury.
Up Next
The Bulls close out the nonconference portion of their schedule when they face No. 21/22 Arkansas on Wednesday to conclude the San Diego Invitational.
Following the San Diego Invitational, South Florida begins American Athletic Conference play following the holiday break when it travels to New Orleans to face Tulane on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+), and then returns to the Yuengling Center on Jan. 3 to take on Temple at 5 p.m. (ESPNU).
Catch The Bulls on Bulls Unlimited & ESPN+
The majority of USF’s regular-season games will be streamed live on the ESPN+ platform. The American Athletic Conference and ESPN began a new 12-year television rights agreement which started in 2020-21. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app are $6.99 monthly or $69.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
In addition, all games this season will be broadcast live on USF Bulls Unlimited, with Darek Sharp (home and away) and Brigid Merenda (for home games only) on the call. Bulls Unlimited is available via the free Tune In app (search “Bulls Unlimited’’) and provides static-free quality whether you’re listening on your streaming device, laptop or desktop.
About USF Women’s Basketball
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South Florida recorded its 10th 20-win season during the 2021-22 campaign while playing in its sixth American Athletic Conference championship game in its nine years in the conference. The Bulls achieved their highest national ranking of the season when it checked in at No. 13 in the Nov. 30 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and advanced to their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine years.
USF has made 17 postseason tournament appearances and had eight NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 22 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 10 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, and has won over 400 career games. 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 at the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign.
In 2021-22, the Bulls had three players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (All-Conference First Team), Bethy Mununga (All-Conference Second Team) and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (All-Conference Second Team).
In addition, Tsineke and Mununga were named to the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team.
–#GoBulls –
