Game of Runs Goes Bulls' Way in Win Over SMU
TAMPA, MARCH 1, 2014 – A big start and strong finish Saturday night pushed the University of South Florida to its 17th win of the season, and fourth consecutive victory on the Bulls' senior night.
Sophomores
Courtney Williams and
Alisia Jenkins put together a pair of double-double performances as the Bulls dominated the first 14 minutes of the game as well as the final ten, topping SMU in the home finale, 72-51.
Senior
Akila McDonald grabbed 10 rebounds in potentially the final home game of her career, as the Bulls out-rebounded the Mustangs 56-33, including a 19-9 advantage on the offensive boards. Senior
Inga Orekhova added 11 points (all in the first half) and four assists, helping the Bulls get out to an early lead.
The Bulls pushed to a comfortable lead early with a hot start, scoring the first nine points of the game, and leading by double digits for all but three minutes of the half. The Bulls shot .429 from the field, getting 20 points from the paint and 10 second-chance points to push the lead to as much as 24 with 6:32 remaining. The Bulls' seniors made a quick start to senior night, as McDonald recorded seven rebounds.
SMU cut the Bulls' biggest lead in half by the end of the period, as USF failed to score in the final 4:44, while giving up 12 points on free throws to the Mustangs. Heading into the locker room, USF led 39-27.
The Bulls' shooting woes continued through the first ten minutes of the second half, as USF made just 1 of its first 16 attempts, allowing SMU to cut the lead to eight. A pair of jumpers from
Alisia Jenkins started a string of four consecutive field goals over a string of two minutes,
jumpstarting the offense down the stretch.
Jenkins scored 10 of the Bulls' 33 second-half points, and Williams added 14 second-half points, all in the final ten minutes, as USF pulled back to a 20-point lead to seal the win.
Williams scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season, while Jenkins contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds, posting her 11th double-double of the year.
The Bulls' win elevated USF to a third-place tie with Rutgers, setting up for Monday's tiebreaker at Rutgers in the season finale. The game will be broadcast on the American Digital Network at 7:30 p.m. with tournament seeding on the line.Â
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