Tampa, FL (November 23, 2005) ? The University of South Florida women's basketball team trailed for the first time this season in a game ? the only problem for Jacksonville University it was just 10 seconds into the contest, and the score was 2-0. From then on it was all USF as the Bulls won its third straight game to start the season, 98-60 over the Dolphins at the Sun Dome Wednesday night.
USF (3-0) put six players in double figures led by Nalini Miller (Capital Heights, MD) and Jessica Dickson (Ocala, FL) who tallied 21 and 20 points respectively. Shantia Grace (Sarasota, FL) had a career high 12 points and ChiChi Okpaleke (Tampa, FL), Ezria Parsons (Bushnell, FL), and Jessica Jackson (Roswell, GA) each added 10 points apiece.
Following their slight 2-0 deficit, the Bulls would dominate shooting a blistering 54.8 percent (34-62) from the floor, including 58.8 percent (20-34) from the field in the first half.
Not only was the USF offense on, but defensively USF would force the Dolphins into 29 turnovers which led to 36 points.
“Anytime you have six players in double figures, and share the ball extremely well ? we had six players in double figures ? that's a big positive,” said head coach Jose Fernandez. “I thought we shared the ball well, ran the floor well, and executed well. We were up 30 and things got a bit sloppy, but I thought down the stretch we were pretty good. Everybody got to play and everybody got substantial minutes. So that was good.”
USF will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 26 when it faces the University of Maryland-Baltimore County at 4 p.m. in the first round of the USF Best Western Roundball Classic. Robert Morris and Loyola (IL) will kick the event off at 2 p.m. The losers will meet in the consolation round on Sunday at noon, while the winners will play for the title at 2 p.m.
For ticket information please call the USF athletic ticket office at 1-800-GoBulls.
USF Post Game Notes
- Jessica Dickson had her second straight 20-point game and the 25th of her career ... She had 23 points against Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 20.
- Dickson was also in double figures for the 18th straight game dating back to last year.
- Nalini Miller has had a blocked shot in every game this year ... She finished the Jacksonville game with three ... She has 13 on the season and raises her career total to 87, good enough for sole possession of second on the schools career list.
- Nalini Miller's season his 21 points was her fifth 20-point game of her career, and the first since a 23-point effort against High Point on Dec. 18, 2004.
