TAMPA, NOV. 25, 2015 – Exactly 25 years ago, the Bulls defeated Butler three days after Thanksgiving in Tampa, and Wednesday night's women's basketball game was no different. No. 18/17 USF disposed of the Bulldogs 87-77 on the eve of the holiday.
Led by two double-double performances by Courtney Williams (Folkston, Ga.) and Alisia Jenkins (Statesboro, Ga.), the Bulls escaped a tough performance by the Bulldogs. Williams scored a game high 29 points, her fourth consecutive game with 20+ points. The senior grabbed 10 rebounds, for her second double-double this season. Jenkins turned in 14 points and 12 rebounds, and a season high three blocks.
The Bulls had a slow first quarter, while Butler got out to a hot start. USF gave up a season high 26 points in the first quarter, and the Bulldogs outscored USF 26-19. It was the only quarter the Bulls lost.
The Bulldogs shot an astounding 40 percent from behind the arc, sinking 14 three-pointers. Sydney Buck led Butler with 22 points, and six three-pointers, while Brittany Ward added 16 points and eight rebounds.
Once USF found its rhythm, it held Butler to 10 points and a six and a half minute scoring draught. The Bulls went on a 13-2 tear to close out the quarter. USF cut the lead to 36-34 at the break.
USF regained the lead less than two minutes into the quarter and never looked back. Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) collected 10 of her 12 points in the second half, including back-to-back three pointers in the fourth quarter. Laia Flores (Mataro, Spain) also had a strong second half, scoring a career-high 10 points, eight in the fourth quarter.
The Bulls will return to action after the holiday in Queens, N.Y. USF will face St. John's University Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. The pair will battle for the tenth time in program history.
Jose Fernandez's 2015 women's basketball team returns all five starters, including All-American Candidate Courtney Williams, from a team that posted a 27-8 (15-3 American) record in 2014-15 and finished the season in the top 25 rankings. The squad finished second behind eventual NCAA champion UConn in the American Athletic Conference and made an exciting NCAA Tournament run that saw USF top LSU in front of 5,560 fans in the Sun Dome in the NCAA regional round.
In 2015-16, the Bulls will be hosting their toughest schedule yet, including the opening rounds of the Preseason WNIT, along with perennial powers Penn State, Chattanooga, Oklahoma State and UConn making trips to Tampa. Season tickets, starting at just $65, are available for purchase online at USFBullsTix.com, by phone at 1-800-GoBulls or in person at the Gate B ticket office of the Sun Dome, with single game tickets going on sale in late September.
USF has made 11 postseason tournament appearances and had three NCAA Tournament berths in Head Coach Jose Fernandez's 15 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to six 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 260 games.
– #GoBulls –
