The Bulls welcome the Vandals during their Holiday Spectacular.
TAMPA (Dec. 13, 2019) – USF closes out its two-game homestand on Sunday when Idaho visits the Yuengling Center. Tip-off is at 1 p.m. The game will be the final home game for the Bulls before the holiday break, and USF’s Holiday Spectacular with the first 500 fans in attendance wearing an ugly sweater receiving a USF basketball holiday ornament along with a 15 percent discount at the USF team store. In addition, fans who win the ugliest sweater contest will receive four free tickets to Enchant Christmas at Tropicana Field.
The game will be the first of the final women’s and men’s doubleheader of the season with the men’s team taking on Drexel at 4 p.m. In addition, at both games, Santa Claus will be at the Yuengling Center along with a performance by the popular ZOOperstars! at both games.
GAME 11 | SUN., DEC. 15, 2019 | 1 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
Live Stats | Watch Live | Listen Live
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: YouTube (GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Analyst)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: First meeting
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
-/RV USF BULLS | 6-4
Last Game: Dec. 5 vs. Alabama State W, 80-29
Next Game: Dec. 19 vs. Mississippi State, 7 p.m. ET
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 360-263 (20th season)
at USF: Same
IDAHO VANDALS | 4-3
Last Game: Dec. 4 at San Diego, W, 65-32
Next Game: Dec. 21 vs. Hawaii, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: John Newlee
Alma Mater: San Diego State, 1982
Career Record: 288-247 (18th season)
at Idaho: 195-165 (12th season)
QUICK HITS
– The Bulls have two players – Elena Tsineke (12.6) and Bethy Mununga (10.4) – who are averaging double figures in the scoring column and three others who are netting no less than 8.0 points per game.
– USF is coming off a dominating 80-29 win over Alabama State on Dec. 6 … Maria Alvarez paced the way with a game-high 18 points while Kristyna Brabencova and Elena Tsineke chipped in with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
– USF is currently receiving votes (1) in USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll, released on Tuesday … The Bulls had been ranked as high as No. 20 (Nov. 26) in the Coaches poll.
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.
– Sunday’s game will be USF’s Holiday Spectacular with the first 500 fans in attendance wearing an ugly sweater receiving a USF basketball holiday ornament along with a 15 percent discount to the USF team store … In addition, fans who win the ugliest sweater contest will receive four free tickets to Enchant Christmas at Tropicana Field … The game will be the first of the final women’s and men’s doubleheader of the season with the men’s team taking on Drexel at 4 p.m. … In addition, at both games, Santa Claus will be at the Yuengling Center along with a performance by the popular ZOOperstars! … Several other fun family activities are also planned.
UP NEXT FOR USF
– The Green and Gold close out their games before the holiday break at the Duel in the Desert, Dec. 19-21, in Las Vegas … The Bulls will take on 2019 NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed Mississippi State on Dec. 19 (7 p.m. ET) and either the host UNLV or Virginia on Dec. 21 (3/5 p.m. ET).
– The Bulls will return to action following the holiday break, when Brown visits the Yuengling Center on Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m. … USF will close out its short post-holiday home stretch when it opens American Athletic Conference play against Cincinnati on Jan. 5 at 2 p.m.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE BULLS
– In just five games, Elena Tsineke has already made her presence felt for the Bulls after being cleared to play by the NCAA … Tsineke missed the first five games of the season after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA … A native of Greece, Tsineke leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game … She has scored double figures in four of the five games she has played, including a career-high 19 points against Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 29 in the Cancun Challenge … She is shooting 45.7 percent (21-for-46) from the field, including 38.5 percent (10-for-26) from behind the arc, and 84.6 percent (11-for-13) from the free-throw line.
– Bethy Mununga comes into Sunday’s game averaging just shy of a double-double through the first 10 games of the season … Her 10.4 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per outing are second and first on the team, respectively … She has scored in double figures in six or USF’s 10 games, including a career-high 16 points against Baylor to go along with a career-high tying 12 rebounds … She’s shooting 50.0 percent (45-for-81) from the field on the year.
– Mununga has recorded a double-double in five of the Bulls’ 10 games … She has grabbed double-digit rebounds in seven games this season.
– Freshman Maria Alvarez moves into third on the team in scoring after her game-high 18-point performance against Alabama State on Dec. 6 … She is also second in assists, dropping 3.0 dimes per game … She recorded a career afternoon, pouring in 20 points against VCU on Nov. 15.
– Enna Pehadzic is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 8.7 points per game on the year … She is shooting 36.5 percent (23-for-63) from behind the arc … She has led the team in scoring in three of the Bulls’ 10 games this season, including a 20-point effort against Jacksonville on Nov. 5.
– 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.
SCOUTING IDAHO
– Idaho comes into Sunday’s game with a 4-3 record after its 65-32 win over San Diego on Dec. 4 … The Vandals, however, have dropped two of their last three to Lamar (47-44) on Nov. 29 and Old Dominion (67-55) on Nov. 30.
– Gina Marxen is one of three players averaging double figures in the scoring column, netting a team-high 13.4 points per game … She is joined in averaging double figures by Beyonce Bea (12.1 ppg) and Lizzy Klinker (11.0) … Bea and Linker also one and two on the team in rebounding, grabbing 7.3 and 5.6 rebounds per game, respectively.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE VANDALS
– Sunday’s game between USF and Idaho will be the first meeting between the two schools.
LAST TIME OUT
– USF got a game-high 18 points from Maria Alvarez and a career-best 16 points from Kristyna Brabencova as the Bulls dominated Alabama State on Dec. 6 at the Yuengling Center en route to an 80-29 win.
– In addition to the freshmen tandem of Alvarez and Brabencova, fellow classmate Elena Tsineke added 15 points. Tamara Henshaw was a force on the glass, grabbing a career-high tying 15 rebounds, including 11 in the first half.
– USF controlled the game from the start, leading at the break, 36-22, but it was in the second half where the Bulls took their game to another level, outscoring Alabama State, 44-7, in the final 20 minutes of play … Six of the seven points came in the third quarter … USF shot 17-for-34 (50 percent) from the field, including 9-for-20 (45 percent) from behind the three-point arc in the second stanza to close out the night.
– Elisa Pinzan turned in nine points and dished out a game-high seven rebounds, and Beatriz Jordao chipped in with six points and a season-high nine boards.
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.
– #GoBulls –
