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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - Freshman Alisia Jenkins posted her third straight
double-double in the USF women's basketball team's 65-59 loss to St. John's at
the Sun Dome on Wednesday afternoon.
Jenkins scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds
as USF (16-7, 5-5) lost for the first time in the past three games. Inga
Orekhova scored 13 points and freshman guard Courtney Williams added 10 more, but the Bulls as a whole shot 31 percent (9-for-29).
Four of USF's five league losses have been decided by six
points or fewer this season.
"I think we have a good basketball team. We've just been on
the wrong end of these close ones," head coach Jose Fernandez said.
Jenkins scored USF's first seven points and was up to 11 points
at the break. The Statesboro, Ga., native has averaged 14.6 points and 11
rebounds in the past three games.
"I'm kind of getting into the groove of things," the forward
said. "I'm not scared to shoot the ball. I'll get the ball and drive in now."
Shenneika Smith posted a game-high 19 points and 12 rebounds
for St. John's (12-10, 6-4). Aliyyah Handford finished with 16 points and
Briana Brown added 13 points to help the Red Storm win for the second time in
the past three games.
"We knew St. John's was a lot better than their record
indicated," Fernandez said.
The Red Storm led by 11 with 3:25 to play before a USF cut
its deficit to four twice and got it down to three on a Williams layup with 14
seconds remaining. Three foul shots by Nadirah McKenith finished the job for
St. John's while USF turned the ball over for the 16th time down the
stretch.
"We had a lot of mental breakdowns. You have to bounce back,"
Fernandez said.
The Bulls are back at the Sun Dome 7 p.m. Saturday to host
Seton Hall. USF won the first meeting of the season, 74-52, Jan. 22 in South
Orange, N.J.
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