Elena Tsineke scores a game-high 14 points while Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu has 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Game Details
RV/RV USF 58, Memphis 45
USF (15-4, 4-0 AAC), Memphis (9-8, 1-3 AAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
Postgame Press Conference: Jose Fernandez | Sammie Puisis & Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu
Click here for game highlight link
TAMPA (Jan. 11, 2023) — The University of South Florida women’s basketball team used a 9-0 run to close out the third quarter as the Bulls pulled away from visiting Memphis for a 58-45 victory at the Yuengling Center on Wednesday night. The win marked the fifth straight for South Florida, and the eighth win in its last 10 games, as the Green and Gold improves to 15-4 on the year and 4-0 in the American Athletic Conference. The Tigers fall to 9-8 overall and 1-3 in The American.
Elena Tsineke scored a game-high 14 points while Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added 12 points and 15 rebounds. Sammie Puisis chipped in with 10 points in the win.
The Bulls, who led 17-8 after the first quarter, but only 29-26 at the half, outscored Memphis 18-8 in the third stanza, with the nine points of their run coming in the final three minutes. During the stretch the Bulls took a six-point edge, 40-34, started by a hook shot by Fankam Mendjiadeu, and closed the quarter with a 13-point lead, 47-34, on a driving layup by Aerial Wilson. Wilson finished the night with five points, five rebounds, and four assists while also drawing five charges on the defensive end of the floor.
Both Fankam Mendjiadeu and Wilson started their collegiate careers with the Tigers before transferring to South Florida before the 2021-22 campaign.
The Bulls extended their lead to as many as 14 points on a three by Tsineke with just under eight minutes left and didn’t let Memphis get any closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Notable
- Wednesday’s starters for the Bulls were: G Elena Tsineke, G Aerial Wilson, F Sammie Puisis, F Carla Brito and F Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu … The Bulls are 13-4 with this lineup.
- The win over Memphis evens South Florida’s record to 15-15 against the Tigers in the series that dates back to the 1995-96 season … The victory is also the fourth straight against Memphis and their 13th victory in the last 16 meetings.
- The win over the Tigers also improves South Florida to 9-0 at home and 12-0 dating back to last season … Since the 2019-20 season the Bulls boast a 43-5 record in the Yuengling Center.
- Elena Tsineke’s 14 points against Memphis mark her 75th career double-figure scoring game in her 98th career game with the Bulls.
- Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu’s 12 points and 15 rebounds mark her 45th career double-double and her 20th in a South Florida uniform.
- With her third rebound of the night, Sammie Puisis reached the 300 rebound mark for her career in her 100th career game.
Up Next
South Florida closes out its short two-game homestand on Saturday when it hosts Tulane, for the second meeting since Dec. 30 (ESPN+). Game time against the Green Wave is at 7 p.m.
Catch The Bulls on Bulls Unlimited & ESPN+
The majority of USF’s regular-season games will be streamed live on the ESPN+ platform. The American Athletic Conference and ESPN began a new 12-year television rights agreement which started in 2020-21. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app are $9.99 monthly or $99.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
In addition, all games this season will be broadcast live on USF Bulls Unlimited, with Darek Sharp (home and away) and Brigid Merenda (for home games only) on the call. Bulls Unlimited is available via the free Tune In app (search “Bulls Unlimited’’) and provides static-free quality whether you’re listening on your streaming device, laptop or desktop.
About USF Women’s Basketball
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF women’s basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
South Florida recorded its 10th 20-win season during the 2021-22 campaign while playing in its sixth American Athletic Conference championship game in its nine years in the conference. The Bulls achieved their highest national ranking of the season when it checked in at No. 13 in the Nov. 30 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and advanced to their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine years.
USF has made 17 postseason tournament appearances and had eight NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 22 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 10 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, and has won over 400 career games. Fernandez was named a finalist for the WBCA and semifinalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Awards. He was also tabbed the 2021 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign.
In 2021-22, the Bulls had three players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (All-Conference First Team), Bethy Mununga (All-Conference Second Team) and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (All-Conference Second Team).
In addition, Tsineke and Mununga were named to the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team.
–#GoBulls –
