Elena Tsineke scores a game-high 30 points and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu has 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Game Details
RV/RV South Florida 66, Tulsa 63
USF (13-5, 3-1 AAC), Tulsa (12-3, 2-2 AAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
TAMPA (Jan. 19, 2022) — Elena Tsineke scored a game-high 30 points and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added 17 points and 11 rebounds as the University of South Florida women’s basketball team returned to the friendly confines of the Yuengling Center to defeat visiting Tulsa, 66-63.
The win improves the Bulls record to 13-5 overall and 3-1 in the American Athletic Conference, while the Golden Hurricane falls to 12-3 on the year and 2-2 in league play. The victory also marked the Green and Gold’s 700th win in program history.
Playing in its first game at home since Dec. 29, South Florida led at the end of the first quarter, 19-14, however, the Golden Hurricane outscored the Bulls in the second quarter, 22-12, to take a 36-31 lead into the locker room at the break.
Tulsa extended its lead to as many as 10 points in the third stanza, 51-41 with just over three minutes left, but it was the final 10 minutes where the Bulls took control.
South Florida started the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to take a two-point lead, 56-54, on a driving layup by Tsineke with just under five minutes left. After exchanging leads with the Golden Hurricane, the Bulls secured the win hitting eight of their 10 free throws in the final two-plus minutes, including 6-for-6 from Tsineke. In all, South Florida went 10-for-14 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
In addition to Tsineke – whose 30 points was one point shy of her career-high – and Fankam Mendjiadeu, Cristina Bermejo added a season-high seven points and a career-best nine rebounds in the win.
The Bulls had their first two home conference games postponed, against Memphis on Jan. 2 and Wichita State on Jan. 9, due to health and safety protocols within the programs.
Notable
- Wednesday’s starters for the Bulls were: G Maria Alvarez, G Sydni Harvey, W Elena Tsineke, F Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, and F Bethy Mununga … The Bulls are 4-2 with this lineup.
- South Florida’s win over Tulsa improves its record in the all-time series to a perfect 10-0, and 5-0 in games played in Tampa.
- Elena Tsineke’s 30 points against Tulsa was her 46th career double-figure scoring game in her 65th career game.
- Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu’s 17-point, 11-rebound double-double marks the 25th of her career … In addition, of her 11 rebounds, seven came on the offensive glass which is a season-high.
Up Next
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+). South Florida returns home to face Tulane on Feb. 6 at noon.
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 –
