Williams was named a Third Team NJCAA All-American after one season at Florida SouthWestern State.
TAMPA (May 6, 2021) –University of South Florida head women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez announced on Thursday the signing of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American Patience Williams from Florida SouthWestern State to a National Letter of Intent. Williams will join fellow signees, Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (Nkongsamba, Cameroon), Odeth Betancourt (San Cristobal, Venezuela), and Bella Weary (Jacksonville, Fla.) during the 2021-22 season.
“Patience has great versatility,” said Fernandez. “She’s a student-athlete that had great success in one year at the junior college level. We really like her athleticism and the level of play she brings on both ends of the floor.”
After a spectacular freshman year at FSW in Fort Myers, Williams was tabbed a Third Team NJCAA All-American and Region VIII’s Southern Conference Player of the Year, leading the Buccaneers to their fourth-straight conference title. Florida SouthWestern finished 13-6 on the year and 6-3 in conference play.
Williams, a 6-foot-1 forward, averaged 13.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, shooting 56 percent from the field. She had five double-doubles, including a pair of historic efforts, going for 31 points and 18 rebounds in a win over No. 25 Indian River State, and later putting up a career-high 32-point, 18-rebound performance against Palm Beach State. Her 18 rebounds were tied for a career-high. In all, she netted double-figure points in 12 of FSW’s games.
In addition to her NJCAA All-America honor, Williams earned several postseason accolades from World Exposure Report as she was named a finalist for their National Freshman of the Year award as well as being named a Third Team All-American. She finished the year ranked as the fifth-best freshman in the country by the outlet.
A native of Minneapolis, Minn., Williams played her scholastic ball at Benilde St. Margaret High School in St. Louis Park, Minn. During her senior season, she put up big numbers, averaging 20.0 points and 18.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 70 percent from the field. During her career with the Red Knights, Williams poured in 1,150 total points.
This past season, USF posted a 19-4 overall record, and a 12-2 mark in The American, and capped off an unprecedented season with its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance, and its sixth trip to the Big Dance in the last nine years. The Green and Gold finished the year ranked No. 19 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll and No. 18 in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll, and rose to as high as No. 12 in the AP poll on Feb. 15, USF’s highest ranking ever.
Included in their 19 wins are a thrilling 67-63 overtime victory over No. 6 Mississippi State, the highest-ranked team the Bulls have ever defeated, and two victories over rival UCF. The first win against the Knights secured the regular-season crown on March 2 (W, 65-62) and the second the AAC Tournament crown on March 11 (W, 64-54).
USF defeated Washington State, 57-53, in the NCAA Tournament first round for its first tournament win since March 19, 2016, when it defeated Colorado State, 48-45.
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USF has 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 conference regular-season and tournament titles, and posted their highest ranking in the Associated Press Top25 poll, reaching as high as No. 12.
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 more than 380 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.
Also, 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.
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