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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, FEB. 22, 2015 – The Bulls improved on their best regular season record in school history with a 79-53 rout of Temple at the Sun Dome on the Sunday afternoon.
Laura Ferreira scored 12 of her career-high 17 points in the first half to lead five players in double figures for the Bulls (22-5, 13-2). Temple became the 17th USF opponent to shoot less than 35 percent from the field this season by finishing at 27 percent (18-for-67).
“I'm very proud. It's a credit to our kids and our staff getting the right individuals into our program and having good culture. I couldn't be happier,” head coach Jose Fernandez said.
USF improved to 12-1 at home this season while shooting 48 percent with 15 assists. Alisia Jenkins (Statesboro, Ga.) extended her double-digit scoring streak to nine games with 13 points and added 13 rebounds to help the Bulls dominate on the glass, 48-36.
Courtney Williams had a solid, all-around game with 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Katelyn Weber and Shalethia Stringfield also turned in strong performances with 10 points apiece.
The Bulls put together a 12-0 run near the end of the first half and cruised into the break with a 39-22 lead in the second meeting between the programs this season. USF started the season series with a 70-58 win in Philadelphia on Jan. 11.
USF opened Sunday's game on a 5-0 Ferreira run and the freshman from Portugal registered her 10th double-digit scoring game of the season near the midpoint of the opening half. Ferreira's second 3-pointer spotted USF a 23-14 lead and her jumper in the paint extended the advantage to 29-17 with 5:46 to play in the period.
“I was just ready to play. It was a good game and they were a good team,” said Ferreira, who went 4-for-8 from the field in the first half. “When I make the first shot it helps, I get more confidence.”
The Bulls used the 12-0 run to pump their lead up to 37-17 while Temple went more than 6 minutes without a field goal. The Owls shot just 25 percent in the opening half (8-for-32 from the field) and started 3-for-11 from long range.
USF shot 53 percent in the first period (16-for-30) and ruled the boards by a 26-14 margin. Ferreira and Williams each had seven rebounds and Jenkins was approaching her 19th double-double of the season nine points and six rebounds.
The Bulls continued to build on their large lead right away in the second half by starting on a 15-2 run. Ferreira collected five points during the stretch to reach a new career high in scoring. Williams got into double figures with a jumper that extended the advantage to 54-24 with 14:34 remaining.
“I liked how we came out of the gate after halftime, that was big,” Fernandez said.
Stringfield got into double figures with two free throws that put USF ahead, 64-29, with 9:32 remaining and Weber became the fifth Bull in double digits less than 3 minutes later. Maria Jespersen added nine points to help the Bulls finished with a 27-18 advantage in bench points. Ten different Bulls scored and 13 players logged in minutes in USF's eighth win in its past nine games.
USF sported pink shoes and special uniforms in their big victory as part of the team's annual #Play4Kay campaign to help raise money and awareness in support of the fight against breast cancer. Learn more about the Play 4Kay Foundation at the official website HERE.
The Bulls are on the road for two games next week, starting with a test against Cincinnati 7 p.m. Tuesday in Ohio. USF shoots for a season sweep of UCF in Orlando on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. Watch the Bulls wrap up the regular season at the Sun Dome on Monday, March 2 when they host No. 1 UConn at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets HERE.
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