Philadelphia, PA (December 28, 2006) ? University of South Florida head women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez became the program's all-time leader in career wins as the Bulls defeated Vermont, 77-62, in the first round of the Saint Joseph's University Hawk Classic this afternoon at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
Fernandez, who won his 89th career game, surpassed former USF head coach ? and current general manager of the WNBA's Charlotte Sting ? Trudi Lacey who held the mark since 1996. He also accomplished the feat in his 186th game, while Lacy took 215 out of 219 outings to win 88, and while posting a rough 4-24 campaign during his first year at the helm of the Bulls (2000-01).
“Reaching this mark feels great,” said Fernandez. “I've had a great experience at USF and they gave me a great opportunity at a young age to take over a Conference USA program. It's not only a great accomplishment for me, but more so for the players that have come though our program and had faith in me and the coaching staff when we took over at a very difficult time.”
USF (10-2) jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead to start the game, however saw the Catamounts retaliate with a 10-4 run to cut the lead to three, 13-10, with 15:39 left in the first half on a jumper by Vermont's Sy Janousek.
The Catamounts (8-3) would continue to set the pace of the game the rest of the first half. Vermont would take its first lead of the game, 18-17, on a 15-footer by Courtnay Pilypaitis. Pilypaitis would then steal the ball on the next possession and hit a three-pointer to make the score 21-17.
After All-America and National Player of the Year candidate Jessica Dickson (Ocala, FL) converted on two free throws to cut the lead to 21-19, Vermont would take what would be its biggest lead of the game, 24-19, on a trey by Brittney Cross with 10:18 left in the half.
USF would hang around long enough to make its move with less than three minutes left in the half. After tying the game twice at 36-all and 38-all the Bulls took the lead for good on a lay up by Nalini Miller (Capital Heights, MD) with 1:45 left before the intermission.
USF entered the break leading 42-40.
The Bulls would come out in the second half much like they finished the first ? playing their up-tempo style of basketball. After Pilypaitis scored the first field goal of the half, USF would run off eight straight points capped off by a Dickson lay up to make the score 52-42 with 15:26 left.
Vermont, like the first half would battle back to cut the lead, this time to two, 58-56, on the heals of a 12-6 run which ended by Janousek hitting a 16-foot jumper with 8:52 left in the contest.
The Bulls, however, would close the game out with a 19-6 run that would include seven-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe over the last two minutes of the game to ice the victory.
As a team, USF shot 41.3 percent from the field (26-63) and an improved 76.7 percent (23-30) from the free throw line.
Dickson paced the way for the Bulls with a game-high 26 points which included 10-10 shooting from the free throw line. Shantia Grace (Sarasota, FL) would add 16 points while ChiChi Okpaleke (Tampa, FL) chipped in with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Miller had her most complete game of the season with 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. Her double-double was the first of the season and the 11th of her career for the senior center.
The Bulls' 10-2 start equals the best 12-game start in the program's 35-year history. USF also started the 2005-06, 1976-77, and 1972-73 seasons with a 10-2 slate.
USF will face St. Joe's tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. for the tournament championship. The host Hawks defeated Northeaster 83-59 in the day's first game.
Friday's game can be heard live on 860 AM WGUL with Tom Krasniqi handling the play-by-play.
USF vs. Vermont Postgame Notes
- USF's win over Vermont is the first-ever against the school.
- Jessica Dickson started her 104th career game moving her into a share of third on USF's all-time list with Mary Klinewski (1982-85) ... Her next career start will tie her with Jackie Eisenhauer (1988-92) for second on the all-time list with 105 ... Angie Snyder (1989-92) holds the career record with 109 which is also the career record for consecutive games played.
- Dickson also played in her 104th career game which is tied for 17th on the all-time list equaling Mary Klinewski (1982-85) ... Her next game played will tie her for 14th ... Alana Tanksley holds the all-time record with 113 games played.
- USF's win over Vermont marks the 14th straight in-season tournament game victory for the Bulls dating back to the 2004-05 season ... In addition; the victory is the 19th consecutive against non-ranked, non-conference opponents.
