Tampa, Fla. – Jan. 20, 2024 – South Florida women’s basketball (11-9, 3-4) fell, 65-61, to North Texas (15-3, 5-1) on Saturday night in the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Fla.
Redshirt junior forward Romi Levy led all scorers with 27 points, which marked her third game of 20 or more points this season. Sophomore wing Carla Brito (9 points) matched a career-best 11 rebounds and a personal-best five assists.
DesiRay Kernal led the visitors with 20 points on the night.
HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
The Mean Green constructed a 10-2 run across the final 3:30 of play. Within the stretch, UNT started with six points before Levy tied the game for the eighth time, 61-61, with a jumper. Shamaryah Duncan connected on a 3-pointer with under a minute to go. Brito then drew a foul which sent DesiRay Kernal to the line, who made a single shot, which secured the Bulls’ defeat with eight ticks left on the clock.
TIGHT GAME IN THE YC
The Mean Green netted the first four points of the game before the Bulls strung together nine straight points. Blasigh had five within the stretch and USF led, 9-4 with 5:46 left in the first quarter. North Texas scored nine of the following 12 points to close out the opening frame tied at 13-all.
It was a balanced second quarter on both sides of the court, as the Bulls and Mean Green evenly split 22 points. USF entered the break-tied 24-all, and in the first half of play, there were four ties and lead changes.
By the end of the night, there were eight ties and 10 lead changes.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- Levy (515 career points) has joined the 500-point club.
- Levy has scored in double-digits across 11 contests this season.
- Brito has collared 10 or more rebounds in seven games so far this season.
- Tonight was the third straight loss for the Bulls, all of which have come from AAC newcomers within the span of a week.
- Freshman guard Vittoria Blasigh (5 points) is a single point away from the 300-point club.
- South Florida outscored North Texas in bench points, 20-7, and points off of turnovers, 15-7.
UP NEXT
South Florida hosts East Carolina inside the Yuengling Center on Sunday, Jan. 28 for Women’s Basketball Alumni Weekend. Tipoff is slated for noon and the game will air live on ESPNU.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase women’s basketball tickets by calling 1-800-GoBulls or at USFBullsTix.com.
AAC BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS
For the fourth consecutive year, The American’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will be contested at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Both Championships expand to 14 teams this season with The Women’s Championship running March 9-13. Ticket packages for the Women’s Championship will be $85 per package. All tickets are for general admission seating. Bulls fans can purchase tickets at https://am.ticketmaster.com/univsouthflorida/24AAC All ticket packages are subject to Ticketmaster and facility fees.
ABOUT USF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
For complete coverage of USF women’s basketball, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
South Florida women’s basketball recorded its 11th 20-win season during the 2022-23 campaign. USF has made 18 postseason tournament appearances and had nine NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 23 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 11 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, has won over 400 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference.
In 2022-23, the Bulls had four players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (AAC Co-Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team), Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (AAC Co-Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team), Sammie Puisis (AAC Newcomer of the Year, All-Conference Second Team) and Carla Brito (AAC All-Freshman Team).
– #GoBulls –
