TAMPA, JAN. 7, 2016 – Kitija Laksa has arrived. The freshman dropped 38 points Thursday night, in an 83-56 win over Southern Methodist and shot her way into the American Athletic Conference record books.
Laksa, fresh off a then career high 21-point performance Tuesday, is now a top freshman in The American and is the lone newcomer to score 30-plus points this season. Laksa's 38-points ranks second in league history, and is behind Zykira Lewis (UCF) who collected 41 points last year. Laksa also set the individual conference and team high point total this season.
"They trusted me,” said Laksa. “They gave me open looks and like here in America you say 'I just let it fly.”
While Laksa had a record night, the Bulls turned in one of their most balanced performances of the year. Nine different players scored, three in double-digits and USF shot 47.1 percent.
Laura Ferreira opened up the scoring for the Bulls, with eight points and six rebounds in the first quarter. The sophomore finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds for her second career double-double. From there, the USF bench and youth shined with 55 points coming from the Bulls bench. The underclassman turned in a combined 65 points, the sophomore class alone recorded 21 points.
USF won the rebounding edge for the third consecutive game in its fifth 50-plus rebounding effort. Paige Cashin grabbed a career-high seven rebounds, and helped limit the Mustangs to just 14 points in the paint.
Senior Courtney Williams added seven points, six rebounds, and four blocks, while Maria Jespersen tallied seven points, five rebounds. Stringfield added 11 points, three assists and two rebounds. Laia Flores dished out a career high eight assists and scored two points.
USF caps off its' grueling stretch of four games in nine days Jan. 10 in Tampa. The Bulls end a three-game home stand Sunday and host reigning national champion UConn. 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 –
