Bulls eager for their first Top 25 test of 2019-20.
TAMPA (Nov. 7, 2019) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team returns to the Yuengling Center hardwood on Friday night for its first big test of the 2019-20 campaign when the Bulls host No. 15/15 Texas. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.
For the Bulls, who are receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Coaches Top 25 polls, the meeting with the Longhorns will be the second of four straight that USF will play at home to open the season. The Green and Gold looks to go 2-0 for the sixth straight year.
GAME TWO | FRI., NOV. 8, 2019 | 7 P.M. | YUENGLING CENTER, TAMPA, FLA.
RV/RV USF BULLS | 1-0
Last Game: Nov. 5 vs. Jacksonville, W, 70-39
Next Game: Nov. 12 vs. Howard, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 355-259 (20th season)
at USF: Same
NO. 15/15 TEXAS LONGHORNS | 0-0
Last Game: First game of the 2019-20 season
Next Game: Nov. 14 vs. UTSA, 8 p.m.
Head Coach: Karen Aston
Alma Mater: Arkansas-Little Rock, 1987
Career Record: 266-135 (13th season)
at Texas: 165-72 (Eighth season)
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: BullsVision (GoUSFBulls.com)
Jim Louk (PxP)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Bridgit Merenda (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: Texas leads series, 1-0
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: 1-800-GoBulls
QUICK HITS
– Saturday’s meeting with the Longhorns is the second of five home games that USF will play in its first six outings … Following the game against Texas, the Bulls will take on Howard on Tuesday … The lone road game during that stretch will be at defending NCAA champion, and second ranked, Baylor on Nov. 19.
– USF comes into the game against Texas on the heels of a 70-39 win over in-state foe Jacksonville on Nov. 5 … Enna Pehadzic scored a game high 20 points while USF grabbed 63 rebounds, sharing a school record for the eighth most in a single game.
– USF enters the 2019-20 campaign receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Top 25 polls … The Bulls earned nine points in the Preseason AP and five points in the Coaches Polls.
TICKET & PROMOTION INFORMATION
– For ticket questions or to purchase tickets, please visit USFBullsTix.com or call 1-800-GoBulls … Season and single-game tickets are available, however courtside seats are sold out for the 2019-20 season.
– Friday night’s game against No. 15/15 Texas will be a White Out with the first 1,000 fans receiving USF White Out T-Shirts.
– USF’s annual International Night, an extremely popular night for the Bulls, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12 when the Green and Gold face Howard at 7 p.m. … All fans will receive USF basketball schedule magnets and pom-poms entering the Yuengling Center.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– Following its contest with Texas on Friday, USF will return to the Yuengling Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12, when it plays host to Howard at 7 p.m. … The Bulls will close out the four-game homestand on Friday, Nov. 15, with an 11 a.m. elementary school “field trip” matinée, against VCU at 11 a.m.
– USF will hit the road for the first time during the 2019-20 season when it travels to the Lone Star State to face defending national champion, and second ranked Baylor on Nov. 19 … Tipoff in Waco is 8 p.m. ET.
SCOUTING TEXAS
– Texas is coming off a 2018-19 season in which it posted a 23-10 overall record and a 12-6 mark in Big 12 Conference play … The Longhorns advanced to their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament, falling to Indiana, 65-69, in the first round … Texas is averaging an impressive 25.5 wins per season over the past six years and has recorded at least 22 wins per season in each of the last six years.
– Texas was picked to finish second in the Big 12 Conference this season, according to a poll of the league’s 10 head coaches … Baylor was selected as the favorite to win the Big 12 Conference, garnering nine first-place votes, while the Longhorns earned one first-place vote.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE LONGHORNS
– USF and Texas have met just once prior to their meeting, on Friday night, with that match up coming on Dec. 20, 2010 at the BTI Classic at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas … The Longhorns pulled out an 83-65 victory over the Bulls.
– Andrea Smith paced the way for USF with 17 points while twin sister Andrell added 15 points in the loss … Porche Grant finished the game with nine points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Kaneisha Saunders and Leondra Doomes-Stephens added eight and seven points, respectively.
LAST TIME OUT
– Enna Pehadzic scored a game-high 20 points and Bethy Mununga had a double-double as USF overpowered Jacksonville in a 70-39 victory to open the 2019-20 season Nov. 5 … Pehadzic went 6-for-9 from long range and posted her eighth career 20-plus point game to help the Bulls extend their season-opening win streak to six … Mununga had a memorable USF debut with 11 points and 12 rebounds while the Bulls dominated on the glass by a 63-31 margin.
– Maria Alvarez jumped on the college scene with 11 points, including a trio of three-pointers, five assists and two of USFs six steals … Point guard Elisa Pinzan also had a solid outing with nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
– Beatriz Jordao registered eight points and two rebounds in nine minutes after missing most of last season with an injury.
– USFs 63 rebounds is tied for the eighth most in a single game in school history, and the most since grabbing 67 against Houston Baptist on Nov. 12, 2017.
– USF limited Jacksonville to a 25-percent shooting performance (15-for-61) and got two blocks apiece from senior forward Tamara Henshaw along with freshman wings Kristyna Brabencova and Cristina Bermejo.
– #GoBulls –
About USF Women’s Basketball
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USF notched its eighth consecutive 19-win season and eighth straight postseason appearance in 2018-19. The Bulls celebrated two all-conference honorees in Enna Pehadzic and Sydni Harvey.
USF has made 15 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 19 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.
