Game Information
Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Tipoff: 7 p.m.
Location: Tampa, FL
Arena: USF Sun Dome
Capacity: 10,411
Series: Connecticut leads 6-0
at USF: Connecticut leads 2-0
at Connecticut (Gampel Pavillion): Connecticut leads 1-0
at Connecticut (XL Center): Connecticut leads 2-0
Neutral site: Connecticut leads 1-0
Radio/Internet: 1010 WQYK-AM/GoUSFBulls.com (BullsVision)
Play-by-Play: Garrett Walvoord
Color Commentary: Jim Louk
Television: Bright House Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Drew Fellios
Color Commentary: Anddrikk Frazier
Tickets: Call the USF athletics ticket office at (800) GoBulls
USF Game Notes | UConn Game Notes | BIG EAST Weekly Release
The University of South Florida women's basketball team looks to get back on the winning track on Tuesday when No. 1/1 Connecticut comes to Tampa ... Tip-off in the Sun Dome is slated for 7 p.m. ... The game can be heard live on 1010 AM CBS Sports Radio with Garrett Walvoord calling all the action and Jim Louk providing the color commentary ... The contest will also be televised live in the Tampa Bay area on Bright House Sports Network ... In addition, fans can follow all the action via the world wide web by logging onto GoUSFBulls.com and selecting the BullsVision Premium option for live audio streaming ... The Connecticut game will be a “White Out” with the first 500 fans receiving white USF Women's Basketball t-shirts ... Tuesday's game marks the home BIG EAST opener for the Bulls and is the league opener for the Huskies ... The game is also the first game of a three-game, conference-long home stand for USF ... Following UConn, the Bulls will face St. John's on Jan. 10 (7 p.m.) and No. 10/13 Louisville on Jan. 14 (7 p.m.) ... USF comes into the Connecticut game with a 13-2 record which is tied for the best 13-game start in school history joining the 1976-77 team that also began the season with 13 wins in their first 15 games ... The Bulls are also in the midst of a record 12-game home winning streak dating back to last year ... Their nine-game winning streak - the second longest in school history - was snapped with the 68-60 loss to Marquette on Jan. 3 ... It was one win shy of tying the school record for consecutive wins set by the 1975-76 team winning the last two games of the season and the 1976-77 squad taking the first eight games of their campaign ... USF is coming off just it's second loss of the season in it's BIG EAST opener against Marquette in Milwaukee ... Shantia Grace was one of two players in double figures netting 17 points while Jasmine Wynne added 11 points in the loss ... Jessica Lawson grabbed a season - and game high - 12 rebounds ... On the year, Grace leads the Bulls in scoring averaging 16.8 points per game while Jazmine Sepulveda and Janae Stokes are netting 14.2 and 13.6 points per game respectively ... Porche Grant leads the team on the glass averaging 7.8 rebounds per contest ... As a team, USF is in the top spot as the nation's most powerful offense averaging 89.9 points per game slightly ahead of Tuesday's opponent, UConn, who is averaging 88.8 points per game ... In addition, the Bulls are just allowing 57.5 points per game this year ... USF has scored 100 or more points in five games this season, 90 or more in nine outings and 80 or more in 12 of 15 games this year while holding its opposition to less then 60 points eight times and fewer that 50 points six times.
Scouting Connecticut
Connecticut comes into Tuesday's game with a 13-0 record following its 76-63 win over LSU Saturday afternoon in Hartford ... The match-up with the Bulls will be the Huskies' first BIG EAST game of the season ... UConn, currently the top ranked team in the country in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls, has held that spot since the season's first preseason poll.
Maya Moore leads three UConn players in double figures averaging 18.1 points per game on the year, while also ranking second on the team in rebounding grabbing 8.6 boards per contest ... Tina Charles is second on the team in scoring averaging 17.4 points per game, and paces the team on the glass averaging 8.8 rebounds per contest, while Renee Montgomery rounds out the Huskies' double-figure scorers netting 16.9 points per game.
On the year, UConn has defeated six teams by 40 or more points and its average margin of victory this year has been 34.4 points per game ... That is tops in the nation in scoring margin.
The Series vs. The Huskies
Tuesday's meeting between USF and Connecticut will mark the seventh between the two schools with the Huskies holding a 6-0 all-time series lead dating back to the first-ever game on Dec. 28, 2002 in Tampa ... In addition, Tuesday's game is the fifth meeting since the Bulls joined the BIG EAST Conference ... All the games between the two schools have come during the Jose Fernandez era.
UConn is 2-0 against the Bulls in games played at the USF Sun Dome ... Both school's met for the first time on Dec. 28, 2002, when the Huskies - the ranked No. 2/2 - visited USF's and handed the Bulls a 72-56 loss.
In the only meeting in Storrs, during the 2004-05 season, the Bulls almost pulled what would have been the biggest upset in any sport in school history, however, fell on the losing side of a thrilling 75-65 overtime outcome with No. 8/8 UConn at Gampel Pavilion on Dec. 1 ... The game was the first ever women's basketball overtime game at Gampel Pavilion ... The Bulls led by as many as 11 points (25-14) which was the largest deficit at that point during the season for the Huskies ... Anedra Gilmore led the Bulls with a career-high 20 points ... Her only three-point shot of the night with 22 seconds left and one second on the shot clock to tie the game at 65.
Tuesday's game will mark the second straight meeting between USF and Connecticut when the Huskies have been the top ranked team in the country ... UConn handed the Bulls a 71-48 loss, last year at the XL Center in Hartford, while sitting atop both Top 25 polls.
UConn's two previous visits to the Sun Dome have resulted in record crowd's ... In the first-ever meeting between the two schools, a then record 3,704 came through the turnstiles ... On Feb. 20, 2007, the last time the Huskies and Bulls met in Tampa, the previous record was surpassed with 5,241 saw UConn's 81-67 win.
Last Year vs. UConn
No. 1/1 Connecticut handed USF a 71-48 loss on Jan. 30, 2008 at the XL Center in the only meeting of the season between the two schools.
Shantia Grace led the Bulls in scoring - and was the only player on the team in double figures - netting 15 points ... Maya Moore and Renee Montgomery tallied 23 and 21 respectively for the Huskies in the win.
USF In Home Conference Openers
USF entered it's fourth season in the BIG EAST Conference on Saturday at Marquette and Tuesday marks the first BIG EAST Conference game for the Bulls at home ... USF comes into the Connecticut game with an 8-15 record in home conference openers all-time
During the Jose Fernandez era - beginning wit the 2000-01 season - the Bulls are 4-4 in league openers in Tampa and 3-1 while playing in the BIG EAST Conference.
Last Time Out For The Bulls
USF dropped just it's second game of the season with a 68-60 loss at Marquette on Saturday night in Milwaukee ... The setback ended a nine-game winning streak for the Bulls which was the second longest in school history ... A win would have tied the record for consecutive wins.
The Bulls, who shot 36.8 percent (25-68) from the field, shot a dismal 11.1 percent (2-18) from behind the three-point arc in the loss, well below their 36.3 percent on the year from long range ...
USF free throw shooting woes continued as it hit just 57.1 percent (8-14) from the free throw line, one game after shooting 84 percent (21-25) from the charity stripe against Tulane ... It was the Bulls' third game in it's last four shooting below 60 percent from the line.
Shantia Grace was one of just two players in double figure netting 17 points ... Jasmine Wynne added 11 points in the loss ... Jessica Lawson grabbed a game - and season high - 12 rebounds on the night.
We're Going Streaking
USF had it's nine-game winning streak snapped which was tied for the second longest in school history ... The Bulls also won nine consecutive during the 1972-73 campaign ... The program's record for consecutive wins is 10, winning the last two games of the 1975-76 season and the first eight of the 1976-77 campaign.
USF's All-Time Longest Winning Streaks
10 Last two of 1975-76 and the first eight of 1976-77
9 2008-09, 1972-73
8 2007-08
7 2006-07, 2000-01
The Bulls are in the midst of their longest home winning streak in the program's history having won 12 straight dating back to last season ... They surpassed the old mark of nine-consecutive with their 82-43 win over Northern Arizona on Dec. 20 ... USF held the old nine-game mark three separate times winning the last three games of 2004-05 and the first six games of 2005-06, during the 2004-05 campaign, and taking the last seven games of the 1976-76 campaign and the first two of 1977-78.
USF's Current 12-Game Record Home Winning Streak
Feb. 19, 2008 vs. Villanova W, 77-66
March 1, 2008 vs. Pittsburgh W, 65-64
Nov. 15, 2008 vs. Central Connecticut State W, 100-41
Nov. 16, 2008 vs. Loyola (MD) W, 94-46
Nov. 18, 2008 vs. Stetson W, 103-55
Nov. 23, 2008 vs. Coppin State W, 97-43
Dec. 5, 2008 vs. Florida International W, 99-71
Dec. 14, 2008 vs. North Florida W, 90-44
Dec. 18, 2008 vs. Grambling W, 126-62
Dec. 20, 2008 vs. Northern Arizona W, 82-43
Dec. 21, 2008 vs. Southern W, 100-47
Dec. 28, 2008 vs. Jackson State W, 110-51
Jose Fernandez Becomes USF Basketball's Career Leader In Wins
USF head women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez is already the all-time winningest coach in the program's history, now he has made his mark as the all-time winningest coach in USF basketball history ... On Dec. 28, with the Bulls' win over Jackson State, Fernandez surpassed former men's coach Bobby Paschal with 128 career wins ... Paschal logged 127 wins in 10 seasons (286 games) ... Fernandez is currently 129-125 in eight-plus seasons.
USF is now one of six Big East schools where the winningest basketball coach is a women's basketball coach ... It joins Connecticut (Geno Auriemma), Notre Dame (Muffet McGraw), Rutgers (Theresa Grentz), Seton Hall (Phyllis Mangina) and Villanova (Harry Perretta).
Three other Big East women's basketball programs do not have a coach with 200 career wins -- Louisville (Bud Childers, 153), Pittsburgh (Kirk Bruce, 158) and St. John's (Joe Mullaney Jr., 168).
Putting Up A 30-Spot
Fortunately this is on the forcing end and not the committing end, but coming into the Connecticut game, USF has forced it's opponents into 30 or more turnovers in seven of it's 15 games this year including four of the last eight games ... During that stretch, the Bulls' opposition is averaging 27 turnovers a contest.
In their two games of the USF Shootout, the Bulls forced Central Connecticut and Loyola (MD) into 33 and 35 turnovers respectively after not accomplishing that feat at all during the 2007-08 season ... In addition, Coppin State committed 31 miscues on Nov. 2.
USF forced North Florida into 39 miscues on Dec. 14 ... That came just one-game after the Bulls forced FIU into 34 miscues on Dec. 5.
Most recently, USF's opponents have recorded better than 30 turnovers in two of the last four games ... On Dec, 20 Northern Arizona handed the ball over 35 times - which equals the second most this season - and Southern had 31 turnovers on Dec. 21.
Prior to this season, the last time an opponent of USF recorded 30 or more turnovers was on Nov. 18, 2006 when Texas Southern handed the ball over 39 times in an 89-37 loss to the Bulls ... In that game USF scored 50 of it's 89 points off turnovers.
The last time that the Bulls recorded better than 30 turnovers twice in a season was during the 2003-04 campaign when Wagner had 32 in the season opener on Nov. 21 and Florida Atlantic had 35 on Dec. 30, 2003 ... USF has never had three opponents turn the ball over 30 or more times in one season.
Coming into Tuesday's game with UConn, the Bulls have forced its opponents into 26 or more miscues in 11 of their 15 games ... The only four to not have 26 or more is then No. 3/4 California (13) on Nov. 27, Grambling (21) on Dec. 18, Tulane on Dec. 30 (16) and Marquette on Jan. 3 (13).
Give Me That
In addition to the seven 30 turnover games this season by USF opponents, the Bulls also recorded four games with 20 or more steals ... The Bulls had 23 against Central Connecticut, 20 against the Loyola (MD), 23 against Coppin State and 20 against North Florida ... Last season the Bulls didn't log more that 17 steals in any one game, and only had double-digit steals in eight games.
Prior to this year, the last time the Bulls had 20 steals in a game was against Texas Southern on Nov. 18, 2006 when they had exactly 20.
Sharing The Wealth
Coming into the Connecticut game, the Bulls have had five players record at least one game this year with 20 or more points ... In addition, three players have logged at least three outings with no fewer than 20 points.
USF Players With 20-Point Games In 2008-09
Shantia Grace 44 Coppin State, Nov. 23
27 vs. Iowa, Nov. 28
24 at Tulane, Dec. 30
Jazmine Sepulveda 26 Jackson State, Dec. 28
24 Florida International, Dec. 5
24 Stetson, Nov. 18
Janae Stokes 39 Grambling, Dec. 18
20 Jackson State, Dec. 28
20 Central Connecticut, Nov. 15
Alexis Givands 20 Central Connecticut, Nov. 15
Jasmine Wynne 20 Florida International, Dec. 5
Treymendous
The Bulls set a new school record for three-point shots made in a game with 15 against Jackson State on Dec. 28 ... USF passed the old mark of 14 originally set vs. Jacksonville on Dec. 30, 2001 and then tied this season against Grambling on Dec. 18 ... The Bulls have hit double-digit three point shots five times this season.
USF has hit double-digit three-point shots in five games this season including in three of the past six outings.
Double Dipping'
Melissa Dalembert recorded the Bulls' first double-double of the season, against Loyola (MD) on Nov. 16, in the championship game of the USF Shootout with a 13-point, 12-rebound performance ... In addition, it was Dalembert's second career double-double following her 19-point, 12-rebound effort against New Hampshire on Nov. 17, 2007.
It took 11 games before another member of the Bulls recorded a double-double ... Jessica Lawson made the list with a 10-point, 16-rebound effort against Jackson State on Dec. 28 ... It was her fifth double-double as a Bull and the sixth of her collegiate career ... The 16 rebounds marked a career-high.
Although USF has, obviously, had numerous double-doubles in it's programs history, it has only had one triple-double in it's 37 years of competition ... Monica Encheverria accomplished the feat on Dec. 3, 1999 against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo when she recorded 13 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists ... In addition to Encheverria, the USF men's program has had two triple-doubles in its history with McHugh Mattis doing it at Winston Salem State on Dec. 7, 2006 (22 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocked shots) and Adrian Hillman recording the first-ever in school history against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 4, 1996 (13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists).
Shantia Grace Notes
Shantia Grace has gotten back on track after a slow start in the first two games of the season ... On the year, she is averaging a team-high 16.8 points per contest.
Grace had a record setting night on Nov. 23 against Coppin State ... The Sarasota native poured in a single-game school record 44 points on 16-24 shooting from the field, including 8-13 from three-point range, and 4-4 from the free throw line ... Grace broke the school scoring record that stood since Dec. 18, 1997 when LaTonya Greer dropped in 39 points against Cleveland State.
Through games of Dec. 21, Grace's 44 points marks the most scored this season in Division I.
For her efforts through the first four games of the year, Grace was named to the BIG EAST Conference weekly honor roll for the week ending Nov. 23 ... During that stretch, Grace has averaged 20.2 points per game.
Grace poured in 27 points, including 21 points in the first half, in USF's 82-79 win over Iowa on Nov. 28 in the second game of the Paradise Jam ... She would follow that up with a 15-point, seven-rebound performance in a 71-61 victory over Texas Tech.
Grace tallied 24 points in the Bulls' win over Tulane on Dec. 30 ... She was 6-13 (46.2 percent) from the field and 9-10 (90 percent) from the charity stripe ... Of those nine free throws made against the Green Wave, seven of them were made in the final 1:28 of the contest (7-8).
Grace has scored in double figures in 13 of USF's 15 games this this year, and comes into the Connecticut game having netted double digits in 42-of-46 games dating back to last season ... In addition, Grace has hit double figures in 85-of-110 games during her career and in 67-of-79 dating back to 2006-07.
Grace has tallied 25 or more points in 14 games during her career ... Her most recent game of 25-plus points came with her 27-point performance against Iowa in the Paradise Jam on Nov. 28.
Grace came into the season ranked ninth on USF's career scoring list with 1,391 points ... Through 15 games of the season, she has scored 252 points raising her career-high to 1,643 points in 110 career outings (14.9 ppg) ... Against Jackson State on Dec. 28, Grace became the fourth player in school history to reach the 1,600-point plateau ... She scored her 1,500th career point in USF's win over Iowa on Nov. 27 when she netted 27 points ... She is currently is in fourth place on the school's all-time list ... Next up for Grace is Angie Snyder (1989-92) in third place who scored 1,773 career points in her career.
USF's All-Time Scoring Leaders
1. Jessica Dickson (2003-07) 2,402
2. Wanda Guyton (1985, 87-89) 1,820
3. Angie Snyder (1989-92) 1,773
4. Shantia Grace (2005-present) 1,643
5. Mary Klinewski (1982-85) 1,510
Friday's game against UConn will mark Shantia Grace's 111th career game ... Of the 110 previous outings, Grace has 107 career starts which puts her in a tie for third on the schools all-time games started list joining Rachael Sheats (2003-07) ... Her projected start against the Huskies will be the 108th of her career putting her in sole possession of third all-time just one shy of tying Angie Snyder (1989-92) for second all-time ... Jessica Dickson (2003-07) holds the school's all-time record for starts with 125.
USF's Career Games Started Leaders
1. Jessica Dickson (2003-07) 125
2. Angie Snyder (1989-92) 109
3. Shantia Grace (2005-present) 107
3. Rachel Sheats (2003-07) 107
5. Jackie Eisenhauer (1988-92) 105
Grace, USF's all-time assist leader with 491 for her career, is just nine handouts away from dishing out her 500th while playing for the Bulls ... Should she reach the milestone, she would be just the fourth basketball player in school history - men or women - to accomplish the feat.
USF's Basketball Players With 500 Career Assists
Reggie Kohn (2000-03) 632
Radenko Dobras (1989-92) 534
Chucky Atkins (1993-96) 519
Jazmine Sepulveda Notes
Like her back court mate, Shantia Grace, Jazmine Sepulveda got off to a slow start, however has picked up her game ... Sepulveda comes into the Connecticut game averaging 14.2 points per game, good enough for second on the team in scoring ... Sepulveda also leads the team in assists handing out 4.5 per game.
Sepulveda has scored in double figures in 11 of her last 14 games and in 14 of her last 20 dating back to last season ... She fell just two points shy of tying her career high - of 26 points (set against Yale on Dec. 20, 2007) - when she poured in 24 points against Stetson on Nov. 18 and then again against Florida International on Dec. 5 ... She finally, at least, equalled that mark with a 26-point effort against Jackson State on Dec. 28.
For her efforts during the week of Dec. 7 Sepulveda was named to the weekly BIG EAST Conference Honor Roll ... She then earned a BIG EAST Honor Roll mention for the week of Dec. 29 after scored 26 points against Jackson State, on Dec. 28, on 10-16 shooting from the field and 5-8 from three-point range ... She also has four assists three steals in 22 minutes against the Lady Tigers.
Sepulveda has handed out five or more assists in eight of the Bulls' 15 games this year including a career-high nine against Tulane on Dec. 30 to go with her 11 points.
Sepulveda recorded a career-high eight steals against North Florida on Dec. 14 surpassing her previous career-best of seven vs. Yale on Dec. 20, 2007 ... Her eight take-aways is also tied for the seventh most in a game in school history.
In her last eight games, Sepulveda has recorded six or more steals in three outings ... During that stretch she is averaging 3.8 thefts per outing and 3.4 on the year.
Sepulveda recorded her 100th career steal as a Bull with her fourth take-away in the first half vs. Northern Arizona on Dec. 20 ... She finished the game with six.
Through games of Dec. 21, Sepulveda is 6th in the nation in steals per game and seventh in the nation in assist/turnover ratio with a 2.65 rating.
Brittany Denson Notes
Brittany Denson has become the force that the coaching staff has hoped she would this season ... Denson is tied for sixth on the team in scoring averaging 7.0 points and second in rebounding grabbing 6.5 per outing.
Denson has scored in double figures in three of her last nine games and in five of her last 13 games including season high's of 12 points against Stetson on Nov. 18, Texas Tech on Nov. 29 and North Florida on Dec. 14.
Denson's biggest impact, so far this season, has been on the defensive end of the floor ... Through games of Jan. 4, she leads the BIG EAST in blocked shots averaging 2.6 per game.
Through games of Dec. 21, Denson is 18th in the nation in rejections.
Denson is on her way to possibly finishing among the schools leaders in blocked shots for a single season ... After 15 games she is tied for seventh on the schools single season chart with 39 joining Stephanie Sarosi (2006-07).
USF's Single Season Blocked Shot Leaders
1. Nalini Miller (2006-07) 84
2. Nalini Miller (2005-06) 65
3. Jameelah Trimble (2002-03) 56
4. Nichelle Hall (1983-84) 47
4. Nalini Miller (2003-04) 47
6. Keira Rozier (1992-93) 42
7. Brittany Denson (2008-09) 39
7. Stephanie Sarosi (2006-07) 39
8. Keira Rozier (1993-94) 34
Denson has blocked at least one shot in 14 of 15 games this season and in 27 of the 30 games she has seen time in for the Bulls.
Denson's Games Of Four-Plus Blocks At USF
6 vs. Texas Tech, Nov. 29, 2008
6 vs. California, Nov. 27, 2008
5 Northern Arizona, Dec. 20, 2008
5 at Cincinnati, Feb. 9, 2008
5 Syracuse, Jan. 12, 2008
4 at Tulane, Dec. 30, 2008
4 vs. Iowa, Nov. 28, 2008
4 Stetson, Nov. 18, 2008
4 at Connecticut, Jan. 30, 2008
Denson re-wrote the blocked shot portion of the Paradise Jam record book ... In the Paradise Jam, Denson broke the single-game tournament record of four blocks in the first half of the game against Cal, when she rejected five, then finished the game with six ... The next night against Iowa, she blocked four more shots breaking the tournament record of nine (set in three games) originally set by Laura Harper of Maryland and Candace Parker of Tennessee both coming in Nov. 2005.
Janae Stokes Notes
Janae Stokes is one of three players on the Bulls' roster to average double figures in the scoring column ... She enters the Connecticut game averaging 13.6 points per game.
Stokes had a career night on Dec. 18 netting 39 points against Grambling on 13-18 shooting from the field, including 11-14 from behind the three-point arc ... Her 39 points are the fourth most points scored in the nation - this year - and her 11 trey's made were the most made in the nation this year and a new school record ... Her 11 made is tied for the sixth most made in a game in NCAA history - Division I, II, or III - and is one of only six players in Division I history to accomplish the feat ... She was one trey shy of tying Cornelia Gayden of LSU who hit 12 in a game on Feb. 9, 1995 - the most in Division I history ... The last Division I player to hit 11 three-pointers was Wagner's Joy Gallagher on Dec. 30, 2003.
NCAA DIvision I Single-Game Leaders - 3-Pt FG Made
12 Cornelia Gayden, LSU vs. Jackson State, Feb. 9, 1995
11 Janae Stokes, USF vs. Grambling, Dec. 18, 2008
11 Joy Gallagher, Wagner vs. Boston University., Dec. 30, 2003
11 Katrina Robinson, Chicago St. vs. Troy, Jan. 23, 1995
11 Vicki Adelman, Western Ill. vs. SE Missouri State, Jan. 11, 1995
11 Melody Howard, Missouri St. vs. Drake, Feb. 19, 1994
11 Danielle Viglione, Texas vs. Houston, Jan. 29, 1994
Stokes' 78.6 percent from three-point range against Grambling is the third best in school history with a minimum of five attempts and the best with a minimum of six tries.
Stokes has scored in double figures in eight of her last nine games ... She recorded eight consecutive with the last during that stretch coming on Dec. 30 against Tulane when she scored 12 points ... In the game she shot 4-9 (44.4 percent) from the field and 4-8 (50 percent) from three-point range.
Stokes has scored in double figures in 11 of the 14 games she has played in this season ... In addition to her career-high 39 points against Grambling, Stokes kicked off her collegiate career with, a then, career-best 20 points is her debut for the Bulls against Central Connecticut on Nov. 15 ... She also recorded a career-best four steals against the Blue Devils.
Stokes has shot better than 50 percent of better from the field in six games this season, including in five of the last eight games ... During that stretch she is 45-85 (52.9 percent) ... She shot 50 percent (8-16) from the floor against Central Connecticut on Nov. 15 and back-to-back games of 50 percent against Iowa on Nov. 28 (57.1 percent, 4-7) and Texas Tech on Nov. 29 (50 percent, 4-8) ... She also shot 72.2 percent (13-18) against Grambling and 50 percent (5-10) against Northern Arizona on Dec. 20 ... Most recently she had her second best shooting performance of the season hitting 58.3 percent (7-12) of her shots from the field against Jackson State on Dec. 28.
Stokes is also feeling it from behind the three-point arc as well of late ... On the year she is shooting 46.7 percent (49-105) from three-point range ... In her last eight games, she is netting 56.2 percent of her shots (36-64) from long-range.
As of Dec. 21, Stokes is third in the nation in three-point field goals made per game hitting 3.5 per outing.
Porche Grant Notes
Although she doesn't make a lot of noise in the scoring column, Porche Grant speaks volumes on the boards ... Grant leads USF in rebounding grabbing 7.8 per game ... She's grabbed double-digit rebounds in 12 games during her career and has hauled down 10 or more in seven of the last 18 back to last year ... In addition, Grant has grabbed double-digit boards in three of her last six games falling short of a fourth with nine boards against Jackson State on Dec. 28.
Grant fell just short of her career-high for rebounds with 15 against Northern Arizona on Dec. 20 ... Her high of 16 rebounds was originally set against No. 14/18 West Virginia in the BIG EAST Tournament second round on March 9, 2008 ... Grant has been within two of her career best twice this season ... In addition to the NAU game, she grabbed 14 against Coppin State on Nov. 23.
Grant grabbed double-digit rebounds with 13 against Grambling on Dec. 18 ... Her offensive rebound and attempted put-back - resulting in a foul - put her on the free throw line with the Bulls stuck on 99 points ... Her two made from the charity stripe put USF over 100 points for the third time this season, the first time it has ever hit the century mark three times in a single season.
Grant has scored in double figures in two games for the Bulls this season ... She tallied a career-high 13 points on Nov. 29 against Texas Tech, in the final game of the Paradise Jam, on 4-8 (50 percent) shooting from the field and 5-7 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe ... She followed that up with a 10-point effort against Florida International on Dec. 5 on 5-6 shooting (83.3 percent) from the floor.
Melissa Dalembert Notes
Melissa Dalembert took advantage of her time this past summer with the Canadian National Development Team and that experience seems to be paying dividends ... Dalembert is giving the Bulls some solid numbers off the bench this season averaging 6.0 points per game ... In addition, she is fourth on the team in rebounding grabbing 3.9 per contest and in blocks with seven.
Dalembert is one of just two players on the Bulls' roster this season to be shooting better than 50 percent from the field ... She is second on the team netting 51.6 percent of her shots (33-64).
Dalembert scored double figures in USF's first two games - 13 points apiece against Central Connecticut on Nov. 15 and Loyola (MD) on Nov. 16 ... Her 13 points against Loyola, combined with 12 rebounds in that game, marked the first double-double of the season for the Bulls.
Most recently, Dalembert netted 12 points against Southern, on Dec. 21, to go along with six rebounds and two blocked shots.
Dalembert fell one blocked shot shy of tying her career-high of three on Dec. 14 against North Florida and did so against vs. Southern on Dec. 21.
Dalembert is the sister of current Philadelphia 76er Samuel Dalembert.
Jessica Lawson Notes
Jessica Lawson comes into Tuesday's game with Connecticut averaging 8.3 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per outing ... She leads the team in field goal shooting percentage hitting an impressive 60.3 percent of her shots on the year (44-73).
Lawson has scored in double figures in five of her last eight games, including a season-high 13 points against North Florida on Dec. 14, and in three of the last four.
She recorded the team's second double-double of the year with a 10-point, 16-rebound effort against Jackson State on Dec. 28 ... It was her fifth double-double while at USF and the sixth of her career ... In addition, her 16 rebounds against Jackson State marked a career-high.
Lawson has shot better than 50 percent in 12 of the 14 games that she has played in this season including a perfect 6-6 (100 percent) from the floor against Jackson State.
Fernandez Etches His Name In USF's Record Book
To say that being the head women's basketball coach at USF has been a work in progress is certainly an understatement ... Jose Fernandez comes into the the Marquette game with a 129-125 career coaching record ... The Miami native reached the mark despite having to include a 4-24 campaign in his first year at USF (2000-01) ... Fernandez, however, has really left his mark on the program with what he has done over the past five seasons ... Fernandez has led the Bulls to five-straight postseason appearances - the WNIT in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, and the NCAA in 2006 - all while posting a 103-68 record since 2003-04.
Against Vermont on Dec. 28, 2006, Fernandez became the USF women's basketball program's all-time leader in career wins surpassing former head coach - and former general manager of the now defunct Charlotte Sting of the WNBA - Trudi Lacey (1988-96) who held the top spot with 88 career wins.
Fernandez surpassed Lacey, who held the mark since 1996, accomplishing the feat in his 186th game, while Lacy took 215-out-of-219 games for 88 wins.
Jose Fernandez' Career Milestone Games
First Career Game Nov. 19, 2000 at Arizona State, 74-39 loss
First Career Win Nov. 21, 2000 vs. UCF, 67-58
50th Career Win Jan. 7, 2005 vs. Louisville, 67-59
100th Career Win March 19, 2007 vs. Coppin State, 66-49
250th Career Game Dec. 20, 2008 vs. Northern Arizona, 82-43 win
First Conference USA Win Feb. 11, 2001 vs. Southern Miss, 55-52
First C-USA Tournament Win March 3, 2005 vs. Southern Miss, 68-47
First BIG EAST Win Dec. 7, 2005 vs. DePaul, 79-77 (ot)
First BIG EAST Tournament Win March 3, 2007 vs. Seton Hall, 79-64
First Postseason Win March 17, 2005 vs. Florida, 61-56 (WNIT)
First NCAA Appearance March 19, 2006 vs. USC, 67-65 loss
Jose Fernandez vs. The Top 25
USF is 6-28 vs. teams ranked in the Top 25 of either the AP or ESPN/USA Today polls since Jose Fernandez took over prior to the 2000-01 season.
Connecticut comes into Tuesday's game with the Bulls as the highest ranked women's basketball team to ever play in the Sun Dome.
USF faced it's first Top 25 foe of the season when it met No. 3/4 California in the first game of the Paradise Jam on Nov. 27, 2008 ... The Golden Bears handed the Bulls an 85-55 loss.
USF, who has pulled off a Top 25 win in 2005-06 and 2006-07, did it again on Feb. 5, 2008 when it defeated No. 25/25 DePaul, 78-73 in the Sun Dome ... The win over the Blue Demons was the fifth against the Top 25 for the Bulls since the 2003-04 season.
The Bulls faced No. 5/4 Rutgers in the Sun Dome - in what was the third of four Top 25 teams that USF faced in a five game stretch during the 2007-08 campaign ... The Scarlet Knights handed the Bulls a 71-50 loss on Feb. 16.
The game against No. 1/1 Connecticut - a 71-48 loss on Jan. 30 - marked the highest ranked team that the Bulls have ever faced with its ranking in both polls ... UConn was ranked No. 2 in the nation on Dec. 28, 2002 when they visited the Sun Dome to face USF handing the Bulls a 72-56 loss.
USF faced two non-conference teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the Top 25 polls during the 2007-08 season ... The Bulls dropped a 89-52 decision to No. 10/9 Duke on Nov. 15 in the ESPNU Invitational at the St. Pete Times Forum ... Duke joined Vanderbilt as one of two non-conference teams that the Bulls faced that were ranked in the preseason Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls ... Vanderbilt was No. 23/17 in the preseason polls, but dropped out of both Top 25 polls the week before USF faced them ... They were receiving votes in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today polls.
West Virginia came into the Sun Dome in 2007-08 ranked No. 17 in the AP and No. 16 in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls ... WVU handed the Bulls a disappointing 79-73 loss on Jan. 5.
During the 2006-07 season, USF faced No. 3/3 LSU and No. 3/3 Connecticut (USF faced UConn twice at No. 3/3) ... The Lady Tigers defeated USF 87-44 in Baton Rouge on Dec, 30, 2005 while the Huskies handed USF an 81-67 loss on Feb. 20, 2007 and a 74-54 setback on Mar. 4, 2007.
On Dec. 7, 2005, DePaul - who was ranked No. 11 in the AP Top 25 and No. 13 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll - was the highest ranked team that the Bulls have ever defeated handing the Blue Demons a 79-77 loss in overtime ... The game was the inaugural BIG EAST opener for both schools ... USF's 74-58 win over No. 15/15 Louisville on Jan. 16, 2007 marked the second highest ranked team that the Bulls defeated.
USF defeated No. 21/22 Notre Dame on the 11 2007-08 USF Bulls Women's Basketball road in overtime, 68-64, on Jan. 28, 2006.
USF defeated No. 23 Tulane (69-64) on Jan. 20, 2002, and No. 18 TCU (89-84) in a double-overtime thriller on Feb. 2, 2004.
USF has defeated four of its last 10 Top 25 teams that it played in the Sun Dome (No. 18/18 TCU, No. 11/13 DePaul, No. 15/15 Louisville and No. 25/25 DePaul) with all four victories being conference wins (TCU, Conference USA, DePaul and Louisville, BIG EAST) ... The six losses came against No. 13/15 Michigan State (81-66) on Dec. 10, 2005, No. 10/9 Rutgers (66-65) on Jan. 11, 2006, to No. 6/6 LSU (60-48) on Jan. 3, 2007, No 3/3 UConn (81-67) on Feb. 20, 2007, No. 17/16 West Virginia (79-73) on Jan. 5, 2008 and No. 5/4 Rutgers (71-50) on Feb. 16, 2008 ... The margin of defeat in those five games is just 11.5 points per contest.
The Bulls are 3-1 in overtime games against Top 25 teams since Jose Fernandez took over for the 2000-01 season ... They've defeated No. 18/18 TCU (89-84, 2ot) on Feb. 2, 2004, No. 11/13 DePaul (79-77) on Dec. 7, 2005, and No. 21/22 Notre Dame (68-64) on Jan. 28, 2006. ... The only setback came at the hands of No. 8/8 Connecticut (75-65) on Dec. 1, 2004 in Storrs ... The UConn game was the first overtime game that the Huskies ever played in Gampel Pavilion and was played when USF was in it's last year as a member of Conference USA.
Oh What A Night - Remembering The Grambling Game
USF turned in the most dominating offensive performance in the program's history on Dec. 18 with a 126-62 win over Grambling ... The win was the Bulls' fifth straight and improved their record to 9-1 on the year.
USF shot an impressive 53.7 percent (22-41) from the field in the first half, however improved on that with a 64.9 percent (24-37) effort in the second stanza ... The Bulls would finish the game netting 59 percent of their shots on the night (46-78).
USF's 126 points are the most scored in Division I this year and the most scored in school history ... In addition, the Bulls' 64-point margin of victory is the largest of the season and the third largest in school history.
USF scored 60 points in both halves of a game for the first time in school history netting 60 in the first half (tied for the sixth most in a half and the most ever scored in the first half of a game) and 66 in the second half (the third most in a half) ... It was the first time that the Bulls scored 60 points in a half since netting 68 in the second half against Puerto Rico Mayaguez in the first round of the San Juan Shootout on Dec. 19, 2005, exactly two years and 364 days.
Janae Stokes led four players in double figures with a career-high 39 points in 22 minutes off the bench ... Stokes was 13-18 from the field, including 11-14 from three-point range ... Her 39 points is the third most scored in Division I this year ... Teammate Shantia Grace holds the Division I season high for this season with 44 vs. Coppin State on Nov. 23.
Stokes' 39 points is tied for the second scored in a single game in USF history.
Stokes' 11 treys is the most made in the nation this season and her 14 treys attempted are tied for the second most in school history.
Stokes' 78.6 percent shooting from behind the three-point arc (11-14) is the third best single game three-point percentage in school history with a minimum of five made in a game.
Jazmine Sepulveda tied her career high with seven assists.
Dome Sweet Dome
USF has dominated its opposition on its home floor and have continued the trend, at least through the non-conference portion of the 2008-09 schedule ... The Bulls have turned in an impressive 61-14 overall record and a 40-5 mark in non-conference games on their home turf dating back to the 2004-05 season ... In addition, USF is 65-14 in the Sun Dome since defeating No. 18 TCU, 89-84, in double overtime on Feb. 2, 2004, unquestionably the defining game that has led to the Bulls' success over the last five years, and 46-12 on their home turf since the beginning of the 2005-06 season.
USF is 15-9 in BIG EAST games at home - since joining the conference for the 2005-06 season - and 20-10 in league games dating back to the 2004-05 campaign.
USF Goes 2-0 During Preseason
USF posted a 2-0 record in it's two exhibition game of the preseason this year ... The Bulls defeated the Miami Sun, 91-67 on Nov. 1 and then handed DT3 one of it's two losses with an 81-55 setback on Nov. 5.
Brittany Denson led five players in double figures with 15 points and rounded out her double-double with 11 rebounds with the Bulls' win over the Miami Sun ... Janae Stokes chipped in 13 points while freshman Jasmine Wynne added 12 in the win ... Shantia Grace and Alexis Givands each had 11 points apiece ... Porche Grant added 11 rebounds joining Denson with top honors on the boards ... USF shot 49.3 percent (33-67) while the Sun hit just 35.9 percent (23-64) of their shots from the floor and 22.2 percent (4-18) from behind the three-point arc.
Jazmine Sepulveda got back on track after a rough outing against the Miami Sun after netting just nine points ... The Brooklyn native scored a game-high 18 points on 6-10 shooting from the field, including 3-5 from behind the three-point arc, and a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line ... Shantia Grace and Melissa Dalembert also ended up in double figures netting 13 and 12 points respectively.
USF shot 42.9 percent (30-70) from the field in the win while DT3 hit just 29.6 percent (16-54) ... The Bulls also rebounded DT3 54-40 on the night.
USF Picked To Finish 12th In Preseason BIG EAST Poll
USF was selected to finish 12th in the preseason BIG EAST Conference poll at the league's annual media day in New York City ... Connecticut was tabbed first in the poll followed by Rutgers and Louisville who were second and third respectively ... Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Marquette, DePaul, West Virginia and Villanova rounded out the top 10 ... The rest of the poll is as follows: 11. Georgetown, 12. USF, 13. St. John's, 14. Seton Hall, 15. Cincinnati, 16. Providence.
Grace Tabbed Preseason All-BIG EAST
USF standout Shantia Grace was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Conference Team as voted on by the league's head coaches ... Grace earned the honor after being named second team All-BIG EAST at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season ... Last year she averaged 19.1 points, which was ranked 20th in the nation, and 4.0 assists per game ... In addition to her BIG EAST accolades, the Sarasota native is also considered a candidate for the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award given to the best women's basketball player in the nation under 5-6.
A Look Back At The Paradise Jam
USF had a very successful visit to the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands ... The Bulls came out of the three-day event with a 2-1 record with Wins over Iowa (82-79 ot) on Nov. 28 and Texas Tech (71-61) on Nov. 29 ... It's lone loss came at the hands of No. 3/4 California (85-55) in the opener on Nov. 27.
With their 2-1 record in the Paradise Jam, the Bulls improved it's record in games outside of the Continental United States to 8-2 all-time.
Shantia Grace led the Bulls in scoring in the three outings averaging 17.3 points per game while Janae Stokes also averaged in double figures netting 10.3 points per outing ... Porche Grant, who averaged 9.3 points per game in the Paradise Jam, good enough for third in the team during the tournament, led the way on the glass averaging 8.7 rebounds per game.
Shantia Grace scored her 1,500th career-points with her 27-point outing against Iowa ... In that game she tallied 21 of her 27 points in the first half.
Brittany Denson re-wrote the blocked shot portion of the Paradise Jam record book ... In the Paradise Jam, Denson broke the single-game tournament record of four blocks in the first half of the game against Cal, when she rejected five, then finished the game with six ... The next night vs. Iowa, she blocked four more shots breaking the tournament record of nine (set in three games) originally set by Laura Harper of Maryland and Candace Parker of Tennessee both coming in Nov. 2005.
