TAMPA, JAN. 5, 2016 – It was a record night for No. 22/18 USF Tuesday as the Bulls stormed to a 108-63 victory over visiting UCF. Five different players scored in double-digits, led by freshman Kitija Laksa with a career high 21 points.
The Bulls turned in the sixth-highest point total in program history, shooting 45 percent for the first time since Dec. 20. Laksa led the Bulls with four three-point shots and a 50% three-point field goal percentage (4-for-8). Senior Courtney Williams' stat line proved why she's listed on many Player of the Year watch lists with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks and one steal, in just 26 minutes of action.
Sophomore Laura Ferreira added 18 points, six rebounds, and two steals while Maria Jespersen collected 15 points, seven rebounds. Katelyn Weber finished the final two quarters strong, scoring 12 of her career high 13 points in the final two quarters.
UCF pushed to keep up with the Bulls in the first quarter and ended the first frame down 21-11 after the first 10 minutes. The Bulls stretched its lead to 47-23 at the break, their largest halftime margin of the season. The first two quarters mirrored the Bulls play all season, Williams the leading scorer, Jenkins the leading rebounder, but the 1,856 fans in attendance caught a glimpse of the future in the second half.
Five of the Bulls seven international players doubled and tripled their minutes played this season and chipped in to the 50 points that came from USF's bench. Laksa scored 16 of her 21 points in the second half, and went 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Jespersen scored 12 points, but Ariadna Pujol and Laia Flores scored all their points in the second and aided USF's highest scoring third quarter this season.
USF went 36-for-43 from the charity stripe thanks to 26 Knights fouls. The Bulls' 36 made free throws is a program record.
UCF entered the contest leading the American Athletic Conference, surpassing USF for the first time this season with 44.7 rebounds per game. The Bulls won the battle for the boards and grabbed 53 rebounds, surpassing the 50-rebound mark for the fourth time this season.
The Knights were led by Zykira Lewis with 30 points, with Aliyah Gregory adding 16. Lewis' 30 marked the first time since Jan. 2015 an opponent scored 30 points against the Bulls.
USF continues it's grueling stretch of four games in nine days Jan. 7 in Tampa. The Bulls welcome SMU to the Sun Dome for a 7 p.m. tip-off Thursday, and look to remain undefeated at home. The Bulls end a three-game home stand, Sunday and host reigning national champion UConn, Jan. 10. Tickets are available at USFBullsTix.com.
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 –
