Box Score TAMPA, NOV. 21, 2016 – Last season, senior Ariadna Pujol was known as the spark off the bench, but Monday night the guard turned in a career performance to lead the Bulls to a 64-52 victory over visiting Jacksonville at the Sun Dome.
The Bulls (2-0) only trailed for brief two minutes in the first quarter after opening the game with a 7-0 run. Jacksonville (2-2) answered with an 8-0 run, but it would be the only time the Dolphins led in the entire game. USF scored 16 points in each quarter and shot 42 percent from the floor.
Pujol (Mataro, Spain) finished 8-of-13 from the floor and led the Bulls with a game high 21-points. The senior added six rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block.
Joining Pujol in double figures was Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) with 15 points and Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Denmark) added 11 points. Freshman Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) turned in another strong outing, grabbing eight rebounds and six points.
The Dolphins were led by Sherranda Reddick with 18 points.
Quotables
USF head coach Jose Fernandez on his overall feelings on the game:
“I thought we got out of the gate, we had a good start, 7-0 run, but I thought we just never got up and down the floor. That's just not us. I thought JU did a good job, transition wise, taking some things away. I think Pujol had a really good game. I thought she attacked, created things off the dribble. Add Kitija and Maria in double figures, but we need to get more production from some other people.”
USF senior Ariadna Pujol (#11) on the Bulls' offense clicking early:
“I think at the beginning we stuck to our plan. We had to keep moving the ball and hitting open shots, driving to the basket and finding the open player. We had to do that. Maria and Kit defended well today and I had to step up, but Tamara Henshaw came off the bench and gave us a spark. Dorottya Nagy came in and took two charges. It's the little things.”
Key Stats
USF made 18 trips to the charity stripe and went 16-for-18 from the line. It marked the second consecutive game the Bulls made at least 15 free throws.
Three USF players scored in double-figures and the Bulls limited Jacksonville to just one player in double-figures.
Notables
USF has never lost to the Dolphins, and improved its program record to 12-0 against Jacksonville.
USF has opened the year 2-0 for the third consecutive season.
Pujol's 21-point performance is the senior's 11th double-digit outing in her four-year career, her first 20-plus outing since her freshman season (20 pts vs. CCSU, 11/10/13).
Laksa has scored at least one three-pointer in six consecutive games, dating back to last season.
Up Next
USF will travel to Bimini, Bahamas for the Junkanoo Jam. The Bulls will face North Carolina on Thanksgiving at 5:15 p.m.
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF women's' basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
The Bulls return eight players from last season, and have signed six newcomers to the roster. American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Kitija Laksa will lead a squad full of international flavor that boasts nine players from around the world. USF will look to extend its postseason streak to five consecutive seasons and return to the conference championship for the third time in as many years.
USF has made 12 postseason tournament appearances and had four NCAA Tournament berths in Head Coach Jose Fernandez's 16 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to seven 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 280 games.
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