The meeting with the Bulldogs will be the Bulls’ second Top 10 contest of the week
TAMPA (Dec. 4, 2020) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team returns to the Yuengling Center to face its second Top 10 opponent in as many games as No. 6 Mississippi State makes its way to Tampa. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN+.
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GAME THREE | SAT., DEC. 5 | 7 P.M. | YUENGLING CENTER, TAMPA, FLA.
GAME INFORMATION
TV/Digital: ESPN+ ($)
Jim Louk (PxP), Leah Secondo (Analyst)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: Mississippi State leads series, 2-1
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: No fans during nonconference schedule
RV USF BULLS | 1-1
Last Game: Dec. 1 vs. No. 4 Baylor (L, 67-65)
Next Game: Dec. 13 vs. Stetson, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 374-273 (21st season)
at USF: Same
NO. 6 MISSISSIPPI ST. BULLDOGS | 2-0
Last Game: Dec. 7 vs. New Orleans, W, 106-51
Next Game: Dec. 14 vs. Troy, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Nikki McCray-Penson
Alma Mater: Tennessee, 1995
Career Record: 55-40 (First season)
at Mississippi State: 1-0
QUICK HITS
– RV USF returns to action on Saturday for its second straight Top 10 tilt as No. 6 Mississippi State comes to Tampa.
– Tuesday marks the second meeting, in as many seasons, between USF and Mississippi State … The Bulls and Bulldogs squared of last season in Las Vegas with the Mississippi State winning, 86-61.
– The Bulls are coming off a tough 67-62 loss to No. 4 Baylor on Dec. 1 in the Yuengling Center … Maria Alvarez led three players in double figures with 18 points, while Bethy Mununga had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Sydni Harvey added 11 points.
– USF has three players – Maria Alvarez (18.0), Sydni Harvey (12.5) and Kristyna Brabencova (10.0) – averaging double-figure points, and three others who are netting no less than 7.0 points per game.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
– Mississippi State comes into its game with USF ranked No. 6 in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 poll, and with a 2-0 record … The Bulldogs opened the season with wins over Jackson State (88-58) on Nov. 29 and New Orleans (106-51) on Dec. 2 … Saturday’s game is the first of only two road games that Mississippi State will play before opening SEC play on Dec. 31 at Georgia.
– Jessika Carter leads three players in double figures, averaging 18.5 points per game on the year … Rickea Jackson is second on the team, netting 17.5 points per outing, followed by JaMya Mingo-Young, averaging 15.5 points per contest … Young and Madison Hayes pace the Bulldogs on the glass, grabbing 8.5 rebounds per game.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE BULLDOGS
– Saturday’s game marks the fourth meeting between USF and Mississippi State with the Bulldogs leading the all-time series, 2-1.
– The Bulls and Bulldogs met last season at the Duel in the Desert, in Las Vegas, with Mississippi State winning, 86-61, on Dec. 19, 2019.
– The two teams first met in the WNIT quarterfinals in Starkville on March 30, 2014, with the Bulls coming out on top, 60-58 … USF lost in the semifinals to Rutgers, in Tampa, 62-52 … Two seasons later, Mississippi State handed the Bulls a 68-58 loss during the SEC/AAC Challenge in Starkville.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– USF will get back to work on Sunday, Dec. 13, following final exams, when instate foe Stetson makes its way to the Yuengling Center … Game time is slated for 2 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN+ … The date for the game previously postponed at Stetson’s request, due to COVID issues in the Hatters’ program, has been reinstated as Stetson is now optimistic about its ability to play on the originally scheduled date.
– The meeting with the Hatters is currently the last nonconference game on the Bulls’ schedule, however efforts are being made to find one final nonconference opponent.
– As it stands now, following the game with Stetson, the Bulls will begin American Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Memphis … The meeting with the Tigers is one of three road AAC games that the Bulls will play during their first four league games … USF will also face Cincinnati (Dec. 22) and Tulsa (Dec. 30) on the road during that stretch, with the lone home game coming against Houston (Dec. 19).
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 notched its ninth consecutive 19-win season and was poised for its ninth straight postseason appearance in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the end of the college basketball season. The Bulls celebrated two all-conference honorees in Elena Tsineke and Elisa Pinzan. Tsineke was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, in addition to The American All-Freshman Team and Third Team All-Conference; while Pinzan was named a Third Team All-Conference selection.
USF has made 15 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 20 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 more than 350 games.
– #GoBulls –
