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By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, DEC. 28, 2014 – Courtney Williams led five Bulls in double figures with a game-high 18 points and six assists as USF started American Athletic Conference play in stride with a hard-fought 69-62 win over East Carolina at the Sun Dome on Sunday afternoon.

USF (10-3) was picked to finish second in the conference, just in front of East Carolina (9-3), which had won three straight heading into the seventh meeting between the programs.

“I told our players we got picked second in the conference and we're an asterisk on everybody's schedule in league play,” head coach Jose Fernandez said. “Everybody is chasing for that second, third NCAA bid and our kids have to understand that.”

Williams (Folkston, Ga.) scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half to help the Bulls extend their winning streak to four and Williams had plenty of help in the process.

Alisia Jenkins posted her ninth double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds, and the junior forward from Statesboro, Ga., native's eight blocks were one short of the single-game program record.

“I just go out there and I just play. I just have fun every time I touch the court,” said Jenkins, who noted her all-time personal best for blocks was 10 in high school.

Also joining Williams and Jenkins in double figures with 11 points apiece were freshmen Maria Jespersen (Denmark) and Laura Ferreira (Purtugal) along with redshirt junior Shalethia Stringfield (Jacksonville).

Sunday's first half saw East Carolina jump out to an 11-point lead before USF stormed back and took a 29-26 lead into the break.

Abria Trice's jumper with 10:43 remaining spotted the Pirates a 19-8 advantage, but Jespersen's 3-pointer sparked a 14-4 Bulls run that tied the score up at 22-22 with less than 3 minutes left. East Carolina grabbed a brief lead before Williams shifted the momentum back in USF's favor with a go-ahead 3-pointer that helped the Bulls close on a 7-2 run.

Stringfield started with a team-high seven points off the bench while Jenkins was on the way to her third straight double-double with six points and six rebounds. USF made only six field goals and turned the ball over 16 times in the opening period but was able to pull ahead thanks to solid defense. East Carolina started 8-for-36 from the field (22 percent), 3-for-10 from long range and turned the ball over nine times.

East Carolina tied the game at 40-40 less than 4 minutes into the second half but the Bulls responded with an 11-2 run that ended with a Ferreira free throw with 7:37 remaining. USF never let its lead dip below four points the rest of the way in a difficult game from start to finish.

USF shook off 26 total turnovers and tied East Carolina on the glass, 45-45, after heating up in the second half, shooting 56 percent from the field (14-for-25). Jada Payne and Jasmine Phillips each scored 14 points apiece for the Pirates, who shot 27 percent from the floor overall (20-for-72) with 17 turnovers.

“That was a tough game on both ends with two very athletic teams,” Fernandez said. “I think it was a tough game to officiate as well. It could have been a foul whistle on every possession.”

USF continues conference play 3 p.m. Wednesday against Memphis back at the Sun Dome before embarking on a two-game road trip. Spend part of New Year's Eve with the Bulls by purchasing tickets HERE.