Williams' Big Night Sends USF Past No. 24 Rutgers
PISCATAWAY, N.J., MARCH 3, 2014 – A huge second-half effort from
Courtney Williams in USF's biggest game of the year sent head coach
Jose Fernandez and the Bulls out of New Jersey smiling.
Williams dropped 26 points on No. 24 Rutgers as the Bulls secured the third seed in the American Athletic Conference Tournament, topping the Scarlet Knights on the road 60-51 Monday night.
The Bulls never trailed, jumping ahead 9-0 early in the game and nursing a 13-point halftime lead throughout the final 20 minutes, on the heels of a 19-point second half effort from Williams.
The Bulls jumped out to a 34-21 lead in the first 20 minutes,
bookending the half with a pair of 9-0 runs to control the tempo. Sophomore point guard
Shalethia Stringfield provided a huge first-half boost off the bench, scoring eight points and forcing a pair of steals as the Bulls caused ten Rutgers turnovers to disrupt the Scarlet Knights' offensive rhythm.
Rutgers came out aggressively in the second half, getting to the line 17 times to cut into the Bulls' lead. Clinging to a 54-51 lead with just a minute remaining, Williams knocked down her second 3-pointer of the game, and the Bulls hit three free throws to ice the game.
Williams recorded her eighth double-double of the season, grabbing 13 rebounds to compliment her 26 points, and Jenkins added 10 points and 13 boards for her 12th double-double of the year.
Senior center
Akila McDonald eclipsed the eight-rebound mark for the 22nd time in her career and 11th time this season, and senior guard
Inga Orekhova knocked down her only two free throw attempts late in the second half, extending her consecutive free throws made streak to 32.
USF clinches third place in the inaugural season of the American Athletic Conference, and will take on sixth seed Temple in the second round of the Conference Tournament Saturday at 8 p.m. Stay tuned to GoUSFBulls.com for full postseason coverage.
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