PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of South Florida women's basketball team went on the road for the first time in BIG EAST Conference play looking for a much needed league win. The Bulls, however, couldn't get past Providence as the Friars handed USF its fourth consecutive loss - a season high - with a 64-57 setback at Alumni Hall Saturday afternoon. It was the first ever loss for the green and gold on Providence's home floor.

The loss drops the Bulls to 9-8 on the year and 0-3 in BIG EAST play, while Providence is now 8-7 on the year and 1-2 in conference play.

The Bulls came out in the first half and struggled from the field shooting just 36.4 percent (4-11) through the first nine minutes of the game.

The Friars would hold the lead for the majority of the first 20 minutes extending their advantage to as many as nine, 21-12, with 7:29 left in the half on two free throws by Mi-Khida Hankins.

USF, however, would seem to find its shooting touch cutting into the Providence lead and taking its first lead of the contest, 22-21 on a three-point shot by Tiffany Conner with 2:59 left, capping a 10-0 run for the Bulls.

USF would then continue its run closing out the final 2:30 on a 7-4 stretch to take a 29-25 advantage into the locker room at the intermission.

The Bulls would end up shooting 41.7 percent (10-24) in the first half, while the Friars hit just 38.5 percent (10-26) from the floor.

USF would open the second half scoring the first six points, with four coming from Daleisha Carn. The Bulls would extend its lead to what would be a game-high 10 points, 35-25, with 17:34 left in the game on a Carn jumper.

The Friars would finally get on the board when Wells would hit two from the charity stripe with 16:48 left, making the score 35-27.

Much like USF, who could not find its offensive touch in the beginning of the first half and then started hitting later on in the first stanza, Providence would kick its game into high gear going on a 10-4 run to tie the game at 39 on a jumper by Trinity Hull with 10:17 left.

The Bulls would regain the lead back - albeit for a short period of time - when Porche Grant hit a jumper with 9:55 left to make the score 41-39.
 
Providence took the lead for the final time, with 8:35 left in the contest, when Symone Roberts stole the ball and went the length of the floor for a lay-up making the score 43-42 Friars. Providence would then get another steal - on the next USF possession - and lay-up by Miranda Tate.

USF would stay within reach until the Friars extended their lead to a game-high 11 points, 59-48, on a driving lay-up by Roberts with 2:25 left.

The Bulls would cut the edge to five points, 62-57, however would not get any closer.

Smith led USF with a game-high 20 points while Carn added 12 points in the loss.

USF closes out its two-game road trip at No. 16/23 DePaul on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 9 p.m. ET. The meeting with the Blue Demons will be televised live on CBS College Sports. The Bulls return to the Sun Dome on Jan. 16 at 3:30 p.m. when they face Marquette on ESPNU.