GAME 14 | WED., DEC. 29 | 4 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: USF leads series, 14-0
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
No. 22/23 USF BULLS | 9-4
Last Game: Dec. 21 vs. Ole Miss, L, 61-53
Next Game: Jan. 2 vs. Memphis, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 401-280 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
JACKSONVILLE DOLPHINS | 7-3
Last Game: Dec. 13 at USC Upstate, L, 70-53
Next Game: Jan. 5 at Kennesaw State, 7:30 p.m.
Head Coach: Darnell Haney
Alma Mater: Florida A&M, 2004
Career Record: 24-34 (Third season)
at Jacksonville: Same
By Joey Johnston
The USF women’s basketball team has gotten a few marquee victories. It has gained experience and established roles. Now it is seeking a non-conference exclamation point.
In their final performance before trying to defend their American Athletic Conference championship, the No. 22-ranked Bulls (9-4) face the Jacksonville Dolphins (7-3) Wednesday afternoon at 4 at the Yuengling Center.
(It was originally scheduled as the front end of a double-header with the USF men, but Mississippi Valley State had to cancel due to COVID-19 issues within its program).
USF vice president of athletics Michael Kelly announced that anyone who mentions #USFTwitterHerd at the box office will get free admission and a group photo is planned with USF’s growing legion of social media followers.
On the court, though, nothing is free. Bulls coach Jose Fernandez said his team’s status must be earned. The Bulls have defeated a pair of top 10-ranked teams — Oregon and defending national champion Stanford — while narrowly falling against Tennessee and UConn, the women’s basketball royalty.
But Fernandez is most concerned with the response to USF’s last outing, when the Bulls were beaten 61-53 by Ole Miss at West Palm Beach. The Bulls shot 35.6 percent overall and managed just five points in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Bulls are giving proper respect to JU, which hasn’t played in 16 days due to the COVID-induced cancellation of a game against North Carolina. Fernandez points to JU’s opener, a come-from-behind 69-66 win at Big Ten Conference member Minnesota.
“We don’t know exactly what we’ll get from Jacksonville — they have some transfer-portal kids, they haven’t played in a while — but they’re going to play hard and give us their best shot,’’ Fernandez said. “The bottom line is we need to play well. That’s how we’re going to win and that’s how we’re going to position ourselves for a good start in our conference.’’
USF’s most recent rotation included three guards — Elisa Pinzan (10.2 points, 6.0 assists) at the point, complimented by Elena Tsineke (12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds) and Sydni Harvey (12.6 points, 45.3 percent from 3-point range) — with 6-footer Bethy Mununga (8.7 points, 11.5 rebounds) and Memphis transfer 6-4 Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds) working inside.
The Bulls open AAC play on Sunday afternoon at home against the Memphis Tigers.
“We want to finish our non-conference schedule in the right way,’’ said Fernandez, whose team has played the nation’s fifth most-difficult schedule. “We want to go 10-4 heading into our league. We’ve tested our team against different styles and good opponents. We have some nice wins tucked away in the bank.
“But the last time out, we did not play very well and that has to change. You play a strong non-conference schedule to prepare for your league and I’m confident we did well with that. Now here we are coming off the Christmas break — three practices and a shoot around to get ready. We want to win, but we want to play to our standard as well.’’
There’s no free admission to where the Bulls aspire to travel this season. Everything must be earned. That’s the attitude USF will bring to the court in its final non-conference game.
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 –
