Tampa, Fla. – Dec. 15, 2024 – Graduate guard Sammie Puisis scored 13 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter as South Florida women’s basketball’s (5-6) fell to the reining National Champions, No. 3/3 South Carolina (10-1), 78-62, at Colonial Life Arena on Sunday afternoon.
USF saw three Bulls finish in double-figure points for the first time this season. Senior forward L’or Mputu (11 points, 10 rebounds) finished with a double-double performance. Redshirt-senior guard Romi Levy (12 points) scored in double-figures of the second time this season. Graduate guard Mama Dembele (7 assists, 5 steals) has had eight games this season with five or more assists.
The Gamecocks had five performers finish in double-figures, with Joyce Edwards (15 points), Sania Feagin (14 points), Chloe Kitts (10 points), Te-Hina Paopao (10 points), and Ashlyn Watkins (10 points).
HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
In the first eight minutes in the third frame, South Carolina strung together an effective 17-6 scoring run and the Gamecocks advantage rose as high as 23 points. Late in the fourth quarter, the Bulls narrowed the game to as low as 16 points.
STELLAR SECOND FRAME
In the second quarter, the Bulls cut the Gamecocks lead to 10 points a trio of times. A short 5-0 run, composed of a pull-up jumper from red-shirt senior guard Romi Levy and a big 3-pointer from graduate guard Sammie Puisis. Puisis’ first pointer of the day cut the Bulls deficit to single digits, 32-25, with 3:33 to play before the break.
COACH FERNANDEZ SAID
Coming soon…..
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- Dembele (7 assists) surpassed the 500 assist milestone and now has 506 career assists.
- USF saw three Bulls finish in double-figure points for the first time this season.
- Mputu (11 points, 10 rebounds) finished with a double-double performance, her first of the season and second of her career.
- Levy (12 points) scored in double-figures of the second time this season.
- Dembele (7 assists, 5 steals) has had eight games this season with five or more assists.
- Puisis scored 13 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter and collected her eight double-digit scoring performance of the year.
- In the second quarter, the Bulls managed to cut their deficit to seven points.
UP NEXT
South Florida welcomes Northwestern St. to the Yuengling Center on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m., and the action will stream live on ESPN+.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase women’s basketball tickets by calling 1-800-GoBulls or at USFBullsTix.com.
ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
South Florida women’s basketball has made 18 postseason tournament appearances and had nine NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 25 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided the Bulls to 11 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2008-09 WNIT championship, has won over 450 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference.
For complete coverage of USF women’s basketball, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
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