Bulls look to stay undefeated at home in the Yuengling Center.
TAMPA (Nov. 23, 2019) – No. 22/23 USF returns home on Sunday looking to get back on the winning track when it faces Saint Francis (Pa.). Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. The Bulls look to stay perfect at home, aiming for their fifth win of the season at the Yuengling Center.
GAME SIX | SUN., NOV. 24, 2019 | 2 P.M. | YUENGLING CENTER, TAMPA, FLORIDA
Live Stats | Watch Live | Listen Live
22/23 USF BULLS | 4-1
Last Game: Nov. 19 vs. No. 2/2, Baylor L, 58-46
Next Game: Nov. 28 vs. South Dakota St., 11 a.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 358-270 (20th season)
at USF: Same
SAINT FRANCIS (PA.) | 1-4
Last Game: Nov. 22 at Florida Gulf Coast, L, 97-64
Next Game: Dec. 1 at Vermont, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Keila Whittington
Alma Mater: Dillard, 1989
Career Record: 1-4 (First season)
at Saint Francis (Pa.): Same
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: Bulls Vision
John Louk (PxP)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigit Merenda (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: USF leads 2-0
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
QUICK HITS
– The Bulls are 32-2 over the last five-plus seasons in nonconference games at home … USF last lost a nonconference home game on Jan. 22, 2017, when Louisville defeated the Bulls, 66-52.
– USF is coming off a tough 58-46 loss to No. 2/2 Baylor on Nov. 19 in Waco, Texas … Bethy Mununga led the way for the Bulls with a career-high 16 points while grabbing 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double in her first five games at USF.
– USF is currently ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, up three spots from last week … In addition, the Bulls debut this week in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll at No. 23.
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.
– USF’s game on Sunday against Saint Francis (Pa.) will be Go Green Day where fans will get $3 tickets for bringing in recyclable items.
– Following the Bulls’ trip to Cancun for the Cancun Challenge, Nov. 28-30, they will return to the Yuengling Center to face Alabama State on Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m. for Celebrate Tampa Bay Day … The first 500 fans will receive USF foam fingers, while Zoo Tampa and the Florida Aquarium will have touch tanks available … The game will be the first game of a women’s and men’s doubleheader with the men’s team facing Dartmouth at 8 p.m.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– Following its game with Saint Francis (Pa,), the Bulls head South of the Boarder to take part in the Cancun Challenge, Nov. 28-30 … USF will play a trio of NCAA Tournament teams from 2019, including South Dakota State on Nov. 28 (11 a.m.), Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 29 (1:30 p.m.) and NCAA national runner-up Notre Dame on Nov. 30 (11 a.m.).
– Following Cancun, the Bulls will return home for two-straight games against Alabama State on Dec. 6 (5:30 p.m.) and Idaho on Dec. 16 (1 p.m.).
– The Green and Gold close out their games before the Christmas break in the Duel in the Desert, Dec. 19-21, in Las Vegas, Nevada … The Bulls will take on 2019 NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed, Mississippi State on Dec. 19 (7 p.m.) and either host UNLV or Virginia on Dec. 21 (3/5 p.m.).
A QUICK LOOK AT THE BULLS
– On Monday, Maria Alvarez was tabbed the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, while Bethy Mununga was named to the weekly Honor Roll … Alvarez averaged 15.5 points per game while shooting 11-for-18 (61.1 percent) from the field and 7-of-13 (53.8 percent) from behind the three-point arc last week … Mununga averaged a double-double with 14 points and 11.5 rebounds per game … In addition, she shot 76.0 percent (12-for-16) from the field in the two games.
– The Bulls lead, or are second, in the American Athletic Conference in several statistical categories through games of Nov. 22:
Scoring Defense: 1st (52.4)
Scoring Margin: 2nd (+15.4)
3-Point FG Percentage: 2nd (35.1%)
3-Point FG Percentage Defense: 1st (23.0%)
3-Point FG Made: 2nd (39)
3-Pt FG Made Per Game: 2nd (7.8)
3-Pt FG Attempted: 2nd (111)
Total Rebounds: 2nd (225)
Rebounding Offense: 2nd (45.0)
Rebounding Defense: 1st (32.0)
Rebounding Margin: 1st (+13.0)
Offensive Rebounding: 1st (17.8)
– Bethy Mununga comes into Sunday’s game averaging a team-high 13.4 points per game on the year while shooting a stellar 65.9 percent (29-for-44) from the field … Her field goal percentage is tops in The American and 19th in the nation (through Nov. 22).
– Mununga is averaging a double-double to start the season, averaging 11.0 rebounds per contest through five games to go along with her 13.4 points per game … She has recorded a double-double in four of the Bulls’ five games … Mununga is also first in The American, and second in the nation, in double-doubles.
– Enna Pehadzic is second on the team in scoring, averaging a team-high 13.0 points per game on the year while shooting 35.7 percent (20-for-56) from the field, including 44.7 percent (17-for-38) from behind the arc … Her 17 threes made is first in The American and 14th in the nation … She has led the team in scoring in three of the Bulls’ five games this season, including a 20-point effort against Jacksonville on Nov. 5.
– Freshman Maria Alvarez is third on the team in scoring, and second in assists, averaging 11.2 points and 3.0 assists per game, respectively … She recorded a career afternoon, pouring in 20 points against VCU on Nov. 15 … She is shooting 41.7 percent (20-for-48) from the field and 35.1 percent (13-for-37) from behind the three-point arc … Her 13 treys made is third in The American and 50th in the nation.
– Elisa Pinzan had a season-high 14 points against No. 2/2 Baylor on Nov. 19 on 5-for-14 (32.7 percent) shooting from the field, and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from behind the arc … She is third in the AAC in total assists (28) and second in assists per game, dishing out 5.6 per contest.
SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS (PA.)
– Saint Francis (Pa.) comes into Sunday’s game with a 1-4 record with all five games being played on the road … The Red Flash’s lone win came at the hands of Stetson on Nov. 16, 78-73 … SFU is coming off a 97-64 loss at Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 22 in Fort Myers.
– Karson Swogger leads the Saint Francis in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game, while Haley Thomas is averaging 10.0 points per game, respectively … Sam Miller is just shy of averaging double figures, netting 8.5 points per game… Jada Dapaa leads the team on the glass, grabbing 6.0 rebounds per contest.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE RED FLASH
– Sunday’s game is just the third meeting between USF and Saint Francis with the Bulls holding a 2-0 series lead.
– The last time USF and the Red Flash met was on Dec. 14, 2016 when the Bulls handed Saint Francis a 129-80 loss in Tampa.
– USF’s 129 points scored against the Red Flash, in the last meeting in 2016, still stands as the most points scored by the Bulls in their program’s history … It is one of four games of 120-or-more points that USF has scored all-time.
LAST TIME OUT
– No. 22/23 USF came into its matchup with defending NCAA champion and No. 2/2-ranked Baylor, on Nov. 19, looking to make a statement nationally, and despite the outcome, the Bulls did just that … USF had the Lady Bears on the ropes in the fourth quarter, however, Baylor eventually toughed out a 58-46 win on Tuesday night in front of 7,485 fans at the Ferrell Center.
– Bethy Mununga poured in a career-high 16 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double in her first five games … Elisa Pinzan had 14 points in USF’s first road test.
– The Bulls fell behind early and found themselves fighting an uphill battle the rest of the night … Baylor led by as many as 12 points during the contest, only to see USF fight back and get the Bears’ lead down to one on several occasions during the night.
– The Bulls tied the game at 15-all with just over eight minutes left in the first half, on a reverse layup by Tamara Henshaw, but could never find their way over the hump to take the lead … USF, down eight in the fourth quarter, made one last run at the defending national champions, cutting the Lady Bears’ lead to three, but Baylor proved to be too much down the stretch.
– Baylor came into the game averaging 109.7 points per game, and held a 70.7-point margin of victory in its first three games.
– The Bulls shot just 28.2 percent (17-of-59) from the field on the night.
– #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.
