Bulls Post First Win of Season in Dominant Fashion
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA – Freshman
Ariadna Pujol posted a career-high 20 points as USF cruised past Central Connecticut State, 81-47, for its first victory of the season Sunday at the Sun Dome.
USF (1-1) improved to 2-0 all-time against Central Connecticut State after starting the series with a 100-41 victory in the 2008-09 season opener at the Sun Dome. The big performance against the Blue Devils helped the Bulls bounce back from a season-opening 78-70 loss to No. 6/8 Maryland on Friday.
Pujol and junior guard
Tamara Taylor (13 points) combined to make seven of USF's nine 3-pointers while the Bulls shot 47 percent from the field overall.
Alisia Jenkins posted her second straight double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore forward scored 12 of her points after halftime in the sixth double-double of her career.
"As I told coach, 'I want to eat,' so I was hungry," Jenkins said.
Sophomore guard
Courtney Williams came off the bench to post 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Central Connecticut State, from the Northeast Conference, shot just 27 percent, went 2-for-19 from 3-point range and committed 17 turnovers. The Blue Devils (0-2) opened their season with a 65-51 loss at UCF on Friday night.
Sporting its American flag socks in honor of Military Appreciation Day, USF jumped out to a 36-25 halftime lead after
Pujol and Taylor combined to go 7-for-13 from 3-point range. Â
Pujol posted three points in her USF debut on Friday night and really got into a groove early in Sunday's first half. The former Spain junior national team standout scored 12 of USF's 16 points out of the gates and her second 3-pointer gave the Bulls a 16-13 lead with 9:50 remaining in the period.
"It was good today that we got her the ball and we found her. She's good," Fernandez said.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Taylor and
Pujol spotted USF a 32-22 lead with 1:59 remaining and USF finished the half shooting 46 percent from the field (14-for-30).
"They shot the ball really well. If they don't shoot it as well it's probably a different score going into the second half," Fernandez said.
USF seized complete control of the game by opening the second half on a 13-3 run. A Jenkins 3-pointer put the Bulls ahead, 49-28, and two straight layups by Jenkins pumped the lead up to 59-32 with 10:06 to play.
Williams became the fourth Bull to get into double figures with a jumper that gave USF a 70-37 lead with 6:42 remaining. Williams started her weekend by posting a career-high 21 points in USF's season-opening 78-70 loss to No. 6/8 Maryland.
The Bulls look to build more momentum 7 p.m. Wednesday, when Jacksonville pays a visit to the Sun Dome. Purchase tickets
HERE.
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