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TAMPA, Fla. ? After playing five games in eight days ? including back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday ? you may expect the University of South Florida women's basketball team to be a little bit sluggish, but just the opposite occurred as the Bulls ran away with an 86-44 win over in-state foe Stetson at the Sun Dome tonight.
Four players scored in double figures for USF (3-2) led by Jessica Lawson's 20 points, her second straight 20-point effort of the season. Shantia Grace added 18 points and Caitlyn Mitryk and Porche Grant each added career highs of 10 points. Grant also hauled down 12 rebounds for her first career double-double.
“I'm happy with our kids' effort because I think that they played with much more energy and with a better intensity level (than over the weekend),” said USF head coach Jose Fernandez. “But it's all relative. Stetson played hard and it's an in-state rivalry team, but right now we're looking at the big picture and how we need to play to win games in the BIG EAST.”
The Bulls jumped out to a commanding 13-0 that stretched to a 23-4 beginning on a lay-up by Mitryk. Stetson (1-4) would cut the lead slightly to 17 points (33-16) on a three-pointer by Jamie Nesbit with 3:03 left, but it wouldn't get any closer the rest of the half.
The Hatters would shoot a dismal 22.6 percent (7-31) from the field in the first stanza as USF took a 41-18 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
The Bulls would push their lead to over 30 points early in the second half and would never get any closer with the final margin being the largest lead of the game.
On the night, USF would shoot 42.7 percent (32-75) from the field en route to the win, however the biggest accomplishment of the night had to be in the turnover column. The Bulls committed just eight miscues against the Hatters after recording no fewer than 20 in any of their first four games of the season. Last year USF logged 20 or more turnovers just once.
“That's was a big area of emphasis,” said Fernandez. “We had 83 in four game and we had eight tonight. That's where it needs to be at, between eight and less than 14.”
The Bulls will now enjoy some well deserved time off from game competition and will get back in action on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 5:15 p.m. when they travel to Miami to face Florida International.
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