Bulls Rally Past Cincinnati in Big East Opener

Women's Basketball USF

Bulls Rally Past Cincinnati in Big East Opener

Team 1st 2nd OT Final
USF 27 31 -- 58
Cincinnati 31 24 -- 55

By Tom Zebold
USF Communications

The Bulls got serious for Big East play and it showed Tuesday night.

Jasmine Wynne posted a team-high 16 points, Kaneisha Saunders added 13 and the USF women's basketball team opened conference play with a 58-55 victory at Cincinnati.

USF improved to 9-6 after splitting a pair of games at the Saint Peter's Holiday Classic in New Jersey. The team's ability to focus on a new chapter of the season quickly was beneficial in the process.

“I was just really proud of our guys,” head coach Jose Fernandez said. “They came back from New Jersey with a commitment to work harder and make every possession count, and I think we did that.”

The Bulls trailed, 36-29, early in the second half before going on a 12-0 run to seize the advantage. They kept the lead the rest of the way despite Cincinnati (9-6, 0-2) making the final margin close thanks to a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left by Alyesha Lovett.

USF held the Bearcats to 34 percent from the field during a pivotal second half and scored nine points off Bearcat turnovers. 

 “I felt we did a good job defensively in the second half,” Fernandez said.

Shalethia Stringfield gave USF a big boost with eight points, while Wynne notched her 11th straight game in double digits.

“She's a leader in the locker room and on the floor, everybody trusts her,” Fernandez said. “Defensively she's always there.”

Like Fernandez, Wynne also credited the team's effort in the gym to helping USF start off Big East play in a winning manner.

“Everyone in practice is going hard, being competitive towards each other and it's just carrying over into the game,” she said.

USF looks to stay perfect in conference play when it hosts Georgetown 7 p.m. Saturday at the USF Recreation Center.

“It's good to get this one and now we get to come home,” Fernandez said. 


 

 

 

 

USF FG-A 3FG-A FT-A  Pts. 
Jasmine Wynne 4-11 2-4 6-8 16
UC FG-A  3FG-A  FT-A Pts. 
Dayeesha Hollins 8-18 3-7  3-6  22
USF Off. Def. Total
Tiffany Conner 0 6 6
UC Off. Def. Total
Chanel Chisholm 4 4 8
USF Asst. Stl.  Blk. 
Akila McDonald 0 1 3
UC Asst. Stl. Blk.
Chanel Chisholm 3 1 2
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Players Mentioned

Jasmine Wynne

#1 Jasmine Wynne

G
5' 7"
Senior
Tiffany Conner

#4 Tiffany Conner

F
5' 9"
Senior
Akila McDonald

#32 Akila McDonald

C
6' 4"
Junior
Kaneisha Saunders

#3 Kaneisha Saunders

G
5' 7"
Senior
Shalethia Stringfield

#23 Shalethia Stringfield

G
5' 6"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Jasmine Wynne

#1 Jasmine Wynne

5' 7"
Senior
G
Tiffany Conner

#4 Tiffany Conner

5' 9"
Senior
F
Akila McDonald

#32 Akila McDonald

6' 4"
Junior
C
Kaneisha Saunders

#3 Kaneisha Saunders

5' 7"
Senior
G
Shalethia Stringfield

#23 Shalethia Stringfield

5' 6"
Sophomore
G