TAMPA, Fla. (January 30, 2007) ? Sophomore guard Shantia Grace (Sarasota, FL) recorded her second double-double of the season netting 10 points and dishing 10 assists in the University of South Florida's 79-51 romp of the Georgetown Hoyas Tuesday night in the Sun Dome.
The Bulls improve to 16-5 overall and 6-2 in the BIG EAST while the Hoyas drop to 11-11 overall and 1-8 in the conference.
After taking an early 7-4 lead, senior All-America and national player of the year candidate Jessica Dickson (Ocala, FL) hit eight of USF's next 11 points to put the Bulls up 18-5 at the 15-minute mark of the first half.
Eight minutes later the Hoyas had chipped away at the 16-point USF lead, bringing the game within 11 with seven minutes remaining in the first stanza.
A 17-4 Bull run over the last few minutes of the half increased the USF lead to 24 points as the teams headed into the locker rooms.
Down 45-21, Georgetown made an early second-half surge, knocking down two treys in the first two minutes of the period, but a three-point play by senior guard Rachel Sheats (Marietta, GA), led to a 9-0 USF run that crushed the Hoyas' momentum and put the game away for good.
The Hoyas never got within 25 points of the Bulls for the remainder of the BIG EAST matchup.
The Bulls hit 48.3 percent (29-60) from the field and 8-20 (40.0 percent) from long range while holding Georgetown to 32.7 percent overall and 21.4 from the arc.
USF capitalized off of Georgetown's 15 turnovers, scoring 16 points off of the miscues.
Dickson ended the game with 24 points ? 9-18 overall and 5-9 from the arc ? while grabbing seven rebounds.
Freshman forward Stephanie Sarosi (Mims, FL) hit 5-10 shots on her way to an 11-point, seven-rebound, four-block outing, while junior ChiChi Okpaleke (Tampa, FL) hit the Hoyas for 14 points, 6-7 from the free throw line.
The Bulls next host St. John's on Saturday, Feb. 3. The ladies tip off at 5 p.m. in the Sun Dome, followed by the USF men's game, pairing the Bulls with Notre Dame at 8 p.m.
USF vs. Georgetown Postgame Notes:
- USF raised its record to 16-5 marking the best 21-game start in school history ...In addition, the Bulls are off to their best-ever conference start in school history with a 6-2 slate in the BIG EAST.
- USF recorded a remarkable 25 assists on 29 field goals mage against the Hoyas.
- For the second straight game USF's bench stepped up to score 18 points
- Jessica Dickson tied the school record for career games played with 113 joining former Bull Alana Tanksley (2001-05) ... Against Louisville, Dickson became the all-time leader in career starts.
- Dickson's 24 points was her first 20-plus point effort since netting 30 vs. Notre Dame on Jan. 13.
- Dickson converted a four-point play with 1:17 left in the first half which marked the first of her career.
- Shantia Grace's 10-point, 10 assist double-double marked her second of the season ? and the second in her last four games ? and the fourth of her career.
- Stephanie Sarosi continues to improve over the past three games ... The freshman equaled her career high with four blocked shots against Georgetown.
