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CHATTANOOGA, NOV. 15, 2014 – The University of South Florida women's basketball team survived a wild second half to start the season off right in Chattanooga.

Juniors Courtney Williams and Alisia Jenkins led the way for the Bulls with a pair of double-doubles Saturday, and scored the final nine points for USF to help edge Villanova 57-56 Saturday afternoon after 12 lead changes in the final 20 minutes.

Taking the lead for good on a Williams jumper with 1:20 left, the Bulls' defense held the Wildcats scoreless over the final 80 seconds to pull out a big win over a top-50 RPI opponent from last season.

The Bulls jumped out early on Villanova, getting 13 first-half points from Williams and never trailing throughout the half. The Bulls led by as much as 12, holding the Wildcats to 3-13 shooting from the three-point arc and heading into halftime 32-27. USF didn't go into the locker room unscathed however, losing starting point guard Laura Marcos Canedo for the remainder of the game to injury after just 11 minutes of play from the junior. Already missing starting center Katelyn Weber, who did not play due to injury, the Bulls would opt to start all three of their freshmen to kick off the second half.

A 10-0 run from Villanova to start the second half changed the tone of the game quickly. Down 37-32 at the first media timeout, the Bulls regrouped and began to climb back with the help of their upper classmen. Jenkins ended the scoring draught with a strong post move and layup, and on the next possession, senior guard Tamara Taylor weaved through the lane and spun a layup off the glass. Taylor knocked down a big three-pointer just minutes later, cutting the Villanova lead to 44-41.

Junior point guard Shalethia Stringfield, whose 15 minutes of action all came in the final 15 minutes of the game, put the Bulls back on top with 11 minutes remaining, driving to the basket and scoring over a taller defender to make it 45-44, starting a see-saw battle of 11 lead changes in the final 11 minutes.

Williams, playing 10 minutes in the second half, caused four lead-changes herself, scoring four different times with USF down one point, including the final basket of the game, with 1:20 left on the clock.

Williams finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, recording one of USF's two double-doubles on the night, while Jenkins quietly racked up 11 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman forward Maria Jespersen started in place of the injured Weber, and played well, scoring four points and grabbing seven boards as the Bulls improved to 1-0 with a non-conference win over a quality opponent.

USF plays again Sunday at 2 p.m., facing host-school Chattanooga before returning to Florida.