Tampa, Fla. – Nov. 7, 2024 – Graduate guard Sammie Puisis collared a season-best 25 points and matched a career-best seven three-pointers in South Florida women’s basketball’s (2-0), 68-51, win against Mount St. Mary’s (1-0) on Thursday night in the Yuengling Center.
For the second straight game, the Bulls saw three or more performers in double-digit points, as junior forward Carla Brito had a season-best 13 points and graduate guard Mama Dembele added 11 points and six assists. Senior forward L’or Mputu grabbed a career-best 12 boards as well.
Redshirt freshman guard Gabrielle Kennerly led the visiting Mountaineers with a 20 points output.
HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
With under eight minutes to play in the third quarter, Puisis nailed back-to-back triples, which extended into a 13-point run for South Florida. Junior forward Carla Brito, redshirt senior guard Romi Levy, and Dembele all made shots at the charity stripe to round out the scoring stretch. Levy ended the spurt with two makes at the line and South Florida led Mount St. Mary’s 48-31 with three minutes left in the third. In the final stanza, the Bulls extended their lead to has high as 19 points in route to capturing the victory.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- With the victory, Head Coach Jose Fernandez (253 wins) surpassed Geno Auriemma (UConn, 252 wins) and now holds sole possession of the all-time wins record as a member of The American Conference. Fernandez is already the owner of the all-time conference wins record in The American with 132.
- The Bulls had 28 points off of the bench tonight, Puisis had 25 of those.
- Junior guard Janette Aarnio matched a career-best four assists (Morehead St., Nov. 2022).
- Sophomore Forward Fatou Diakite matched a personal-best three blocks in her debut for the Green & Gold.
- Puisis collared a season-best 25 points and matched a career-best seven three-pointers and has put up double-figures in two straight games.
- Dembele has dished out 6 or more assists in two straight contests.
- Mputu grabbed a career-best 12 boards, noting her second-straight game with a personal best output.
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.
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