By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
MEMPHIS, Tenn., JAN. 20, 2016 – Courtney Williams led four Bulls in double figures with 22 points, but shorthanded USF fell in its first overtime game of the season, 88-87, at Memphis on Wednesday night.
Freshman Kitija Laksa scored 15 of her 20 points in the third quarter and made five of the Bulls' 13 3-pointers. Senior Shalethia Stringfield continued her hot stretch with 19 points and knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 59 seconds left in regulation.
USF (12-5, 5-2) also got a 17-point performance from Laura Ferreira in its first game since being ranked No. 15 in both major polls. The Bulls were missing one of their biggest stars for much of the game with senior Alisia Jenkins playing only two minutes because of an injury.
Memphis (10-9, 4-4) forced overtime with Brianna Wright's layup with three seconds left and made 11 free throws in overtime. Ariel Hearn scored a game-high 33 points and Asianna Fuqua-Bey added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Memphis scored 36 points in the paint and outrebounded USF, 43-30.
“We're going to get everybody's best game and today it's disappointing to give up 88 points. It started on the defensive end,” head coach Jose Fernandez said.
Wednesday's back-and-forth first half featured 10 lead changes on the way to a 38-38 tie by the break. Each team went 14-for-28 from the floor and the Bulls did most of their damage with five 3-pointers.
Williams went 2-for-3 from long range and led USF with 12 points in the half. Ferreira also boosted the Bulls with a pair of 3-pointers and had 10 points in the first 20 minutes.
Laksa took over with 15 points in the third quarter and the scoring surge happened in explosive fashion. The forward from Latvia caught fire with four straight 3-pointers in a two-minute span and her fifth of the game gave USF a 50-45 lead.
USF sank five 3-pointers in the third quarter and Ferreira's third of the game extended the advantage to 58-48 with 4:21 remaining. The Bulls were held scoreless the rest of the way while Memphis finished the quarter on an 8-0 run.
USF had a 67-61 lead with 5:43 left in regulation but was hampered by a scoring drought that lasted nearly three minutes.
“We just have to regroup and get back to work,” Fernandez said.
The Bulls look to bounce back against rival UCF 2 p.m. Sunday in Orlando (TV: ESPNU). USF is seeking its second series sweep of the season after defeating the Knights, 108-63, at the Sun Dome on Jan. 5.
USF returns to the Sun Dome to host Houston on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Reserve your seats at USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-GoBulls.
