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TAMPA, Fla.  ? The University of South Florida women's basketball team got 16 points apiece from Jessica Lawson and Jazmine Sepulveda, and 14 points from Shantia Grace as USF defeated in-state foe Bethune-Cookman 84-49 in the season opener for both teams. The victory was the team's fifth straight season opening win and the sixth in head coach Jose Fernandez' eight years.

“Tonight was good because we had the chance to get everybody in the game,” said Fernandez. “But despite the outcome we definitely have a lot of things to work on. We're not going to have the luxury of committing 20 turnovers and shooting 50 percent (55.0 percent) from the free throw line and thinking we're going to win many games.”

The Bulls (1-0) jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead and were never threatened as the Wildcats (0-1) shot just 26.8 percent (6-27) from the field in the first half and trailed at the intermission 42-19.

USF then used a 22-5 run to open the final stanza to blow the game wide open. The Bulls would hit six of their 11 three-point shots in the second half on their way to the victory.

The Bulls were 11-of-30 on the night from behind the three-point line, with its trey's made marking a share of the fourth most hit in school history, and the most since hitting 11 against UAB on Jan. 6, 2002.

USF also dominated the glass out rebounded Bethune-Cookman 53-36 and 20-10 on the offensive boards. A major reason for it's dominance on the glass was the play of Porche Grant and her career high 14 rebounds.

“I was very impressed with the way Porche Grant and Melissa Dalembert played tonight,” said Fernandez. “They gave us a very good lift off the bench when we needed it and that will have to continue as the season goes along if we want to be successful.”

In addition to Grant, Dalembert added a career high seven points and five rebounds.

The Bulls shot 43.7 percent (15-39) from the field on the night en route to the win.

USF will not get ready for No. 10/9 Duke in the Inaugural ESPNU Invitational on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the St. Pete Time Forum. Defending national champion and current No. 1/1 Tennessee will then face No. 6/6 Oklahoma at 9 p.m.

For season or individual game ticket information, please call 1-800-GoBulls. 

USF Postgame Notes

Team Notes
- USF improved its all-time record in season openers to 22-14 during its 36 years of competition ... In addition The Bulls are 8-2 in the last 10 openers, 12-3 in the past 15 and 15-5 in the last 20 lidlifters.
- The Bulls also raise their record in the all-time series against Bethune-Cookman to 8-2 and 6-1 in games at the Sun Dome.
- It was the Bulls' seventh straight win over the Wildcats after starting the series dropping two of the first three.
- USF is 42-8 on its home floor dating back to the 2004-05 season and 24-3 against non-conference foes during that stretch.

Individual Notes
- All 11 players that were eligible to play in tonight's game (excluding Brittany Denson who is sitting out until December due to NCAA transfer rules) saw action ... In addition all 11 players made their way into the scoring column.
- Jazmine Sepulveda was 6-10 from the field in tonight's win ... She also dished out six assists in 25 minutes.
- The backcourt tandem of Sepulveda and Shantia Grace combined for 8-of-11 from behind the three-point arc ... Grace was also 5-of-10 from the floor on the night.
- Sepulveda, Daiane Packer and Caitlyn Mitryk all recorded three steals on the night which was a career-high for all three.