Bulls Face No. 6 Maryland in Season Opener Friday
November 07, 2013 | Women's Basketball, Student Zone
WHO: No. 6/8 Maryland at USF (RV)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Sun Dome
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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA – The Bulls start the season with a super opportunity 7 p.m. Friday, when No. 6/8 Maryland pays a visit to the Sun Dome.
USF is ranked No. 30 nationally in the USA Today Preseason Top 25 Poll after coming within one victory of the Sweet 16 last season and could make history the first time out Friday night. The Bulls' best win to date over a ranked opponent came in 2005, when USF defeated No. 11 DePaul, 79-77, at the Sun Dome.
Maryland returns four starters from last season's team that went 26-8 and made it to the Sweet 16.
“We've got a very, very competitive non-conference schedule,” head coach Jose Fernandez said. “You're playing the No. 6 team in the country that's very well coached and it's a great opportunity for our kids to open up with a school like Maryland that's very rich in tradition.”
USF's starting lineup will consist of guards Shalethia Stringfield, Ariadna Pujol, Inga Orekhova, forward Alisia Jenkins and center Akila McDonald. Stringfield, a redshirt sophomore, will take over the point after missing last season with an injury.
“She's a leader and she's been a very good extension of our staff on the floor,” Fernandez said. “Defensively she's solid, she's great on the break, and she makes good decisions. She's just been a pleasure to coach and she's had a great spring and summer.”
McDonald, a senior, and the big additions of freshmen Katelyn Weber (6-foot-5), Paige Cashin (6-4) and junior Ivana Vuletic (6-3) will come in handy against a Maryland team that's led the ACC in rebounding the past three seasons. Alyssa Thomas, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, picked up All-America and ACC Player of the Year honors while averaging 18.8 points and 10.3 rebounds last season.
“We're going to have to definitely do a great job on the glass,” Fernandez said. “They have a super kid in Alyssa Thomas, so we've got our hands full on Friday night and we can't take plays off.”
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