TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Matee Ajavon scored 14 points and Epiphanny Prince and Myia McCurdy added 10 apiece Saturday night as Rutgers (No. 4 ESPN/USA Today, No. 5 AP) rebounded from a controversial loss to beat the University of South Florida 71-50 tonight at the Sun Dome.
The Scarlet Knights (20-4, 10-1 BIG EAST) never trailed, shooting a season-best 61.9 percent from the field in their first outing since last Monday's 59-58 loss at No. 1 Tennessee -- a game Rutgers lost when the Lady Vols hit two free throws after the clock seemed to pause with two-tenths of a second left, allowing a foul to be called before time expired.
USF (12-12, 2-9 BIG EAST) shot just under 29 percent (15-of-52) and was limited to 20 points in the second half. Shantia Grace led the Bulls with 30 points on 8-for-15 shooting, but got little help from her teammates, who were 7-for-37.
Grace is the first player this season to score 30 points on the Scarlet Knights. She topped Tennessee's Candace Parker who tallied 27 against them last Monday. In addition, it was Grace's third straight game netting berret than 27 points
The Sarasota native had 20 points in the opening half and led a 13-6 surge that enabled USF to pull even at 25-all. Rutgers responded with a 12-2 run, opening a 10-point lead before settling for a 39-30 edge at the break.
The closest the Bulls got after that was eight points in the opening minute of the second half. Rutgers, which has won 26 straight against unranked opponents, led by as many as 25 down the stretch.
Scarlet Knights reserves outscored the Bulls' bench 31-3, with McCurdy making four of five shots and Brittany Ray contributing eight points in 13 minutes in her second game after missing eight games following surgery to repair a meniscus tear in her right knee.
Jazmine Sepulveda finished the game with 10 points and five assists in 40 minutes.
USF will return to action on Tuesday night when it faces Villanova at 7 p.m. in the Sun Dome.
USF Sports Information contributed to this report
