TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 30, 2006) - The University of South Florida (7-0) women's basketball team ran away with its seventh-straight victory Thursday night, defeating Florida International (3-3), 96-73 at the Sun Dome.
Senior Jessica Dickson (Ocala, FL) scored a season-high 30 points, 21 in the first half, draining 6-7 (85.6 percent) from long range ? tying a single game record for trey's made in a game ? and 10-23 (43.5 percent) overall in the final contest of the season-opening seven-game home stand.
USF made an early 10-0 run in the first four minutes of the game, followed by a 13-0 romping two minutes later to take the 29-point halftime lead.
Dickson's first half was highlighted with a 4-4 outing from long range, while senior Rachael Sheats (Marietta, GA) and sophomore Shantia Grace (Sarasota, FL) each chipped in nine to lead the Golden Panthers 56-27 at the intermission.
USF out-rebounded FIU 26-15 in the first half and scored 12 points off of 11 Golden Panther turnovers.
FIU battled back in the second half, cutting the USF lead in half midway through the period. With eight minutes remaining, the Bulls' led by just 13 points before Grace scored nine of USF's next 13 points to extend the margin to 23.
“We played our best offensive half of the year in the first half, but I think we played our worst second half of the year,” said USF Coach Jose Fernandez. “It was a tale of two halves. We just didn't take any pride in defending or getting around the post in the second half.”
Grace hit 10-21 field goals, 5-7 from the line, for her career-high 26 points. She also had six assists, two steals and five rebounds.
Sheats ended with 13 points, hitting 5-6 from the charity stripe and 4-6 from the field. Senior Nalini Miller (Capital Heights, MD) grabbed 10 defensive and five offensive rebounds, a season-high 15 total boards, and had three blocks against the in-state foe.
The Bulls shot 46.5 percent (33-71) from the field and 61.5 percent (8-13) behind the arc.
USF next travels to East Lansing, Mich., on Sunday, Dec. 3 to play No. 20/18 Michigan State. Tip off is at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.
