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Free Video USF's Sepulveda, Denson and Coach Fernandez | Syracuse Head Coach Quentin Hillsman
TAMPA -- The University of South Florida women's basketball team got 16 points from Shantia Grace and 10 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots from Brittany Denson, however that was not enough as Syracuse slipped by the Bulls 67-60 in a BIG EAST Conference match-up tonight at the Sun Dome.
USF (10-6, 0-3 BIG EAST) shot 25.6 percent (10-39) in the first half, however still managed to keep the game close. The Orange (14-2, 2-1 BIG EAST) would never lead by more than four points, 9-5, in the first stanza with that coming just 4:30 into the contest on a second of two free throws by Fantasia Goodwin with 15:31 left before the intermission.
Syracuse would seemingly break the game open holding the Bulls to just one field goal in the final five minutes of the half and using a 9-0 run to close out the half and take what would eventually be its biggest lead of the game, a 10-point margin, 34-24, into the locker room at the break.
The Bulls, however, would come out in the second half with the most emotion it has displayed all year, led by Denson, who would score the first four points of the half and record four of her 13 rebounds and four of her career-high five blocked shots in the first four minutes of the final stanza.
During that stretch USF would cut the lead top one, 34-33, on a lay-up by ChiChi Okpaleke with 15:58 left in the game.
Syracuse would increase the lead to six points on four separate occasions only to have the Bulls come back and cut the lead to one three times before eventually taking the lead for the final time of the night when Denson connected on two free throws with 6:01 left in the game.
After the Orange got the lead back up to three USF would get it back to one three times but could not get any closer.
Jazmine Sepulveda added eight points, five rebounds and seven assists in the loss.
The Bulls, who have now lost four straight, would finish the game hitting 30.1 percent of their shots from the field.
USF returns home for the final game of the two-game home stand on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. when it faces Providence. The game can be heard line in the Tampa Bay area on 1010 Sports WQYK AM with Garrett Walvoord handling the play-by-play and Amanda Miller providing the color commentary.
