TAMPA, Fla. (Dec. 20, 2006) ? The University of South Florida women's basketball team downed the Jacksonville Dolphins, 72-60, Wednesday night in the Sun Dome.

The Bulls (9-2, 1-0 BIG EAST) hit 7-11 treys (63.6 percent) in the first half, and 48.6 percent overall (17-35) to take a 22-point lead before the intermission.

In the first half, sophomore guard Shantia Grace (Sarasota, Fla.) led the Bulls with 13 points ? three from behind the arc ? and four assists while senior center Nalini Miller (Capital Heights, MD) grabbed 10 first-half rebounds.

After the break the Dolphins fought to stay in the game, hitting 15-38 from the field (39.5 percent) and five from long range, but Rachael Sheats' (Marietta, Ga.) seven points and four rebounds helped hold off Jacksonville for the 12-point win.

Sheats ended the game with 11 points and six rebounds.

Senior forward Jessica Dickson (Ocala, Fla.) and Grace led all scorers with 16 points. Dickson added seven rebounds while Grace notched six assists and three steals for the Bulls. Miller grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, closely followed by Stephanie Sarosi's (Mims, Fla.) double-double night of 11 boards, 11 points and four blocks.

The Bulls next travel to Philadelphia, Pa., to play in the Saint Joseph's University Hawk Classic. USF plays Vermont Dec. 28 at 4 p.m. then on Dec. 29 will play either Saint Joseph's or Northeastern.