Box Score BIMINI, BAHAMAS, NOV. 24, 2016 – The University of South Florida women's basketball team won the battle of the undefeated Thursday night. Behind a 34-point performance by Kitija Laksa, the Bulls defeated North Carolina 83-55 on the island of Bimini, Bahamas in the Junkanoo Jam.
Laksa (Riga, Latvia) went 11-for-19 from the floor, including 6-for-10 from behind the arc for her second career 30-point outing. The sophomore also added a career-best 10 rebounds in her first career double-double outing. Senior Ariadna Pujol (Mataro, Spain) added a solid stat line, headlined by 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Junior Laia Flores (Mataro, Spain) shot 50 percent (4-for-8) and joined Laksa and Pujol in double-digits with 11 points. Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Denmark) tallied 10 rebounds and eight points.
USF (3-0) never trailed and shot a season best 46.6 percent from the floor. The Bulls outscored the Tar Heels (4-1) in every quarter and held UNC to a game low 10 points in the final frame.
Quotables
USF head coach Jose Fernandez on his overall feelings on the game:
“I was proud of our team's focus, coming down here and playing a very talented North Carolina team from the ACC. I thought our kids defended and shared the ball well.”
USF head coach Jose Fernandez on the duo of Laksa and Pujol:
“Both those kids were special. They took good shots, they took advantage. They read the defense and I'm really happy with how they played.”
Key Stats
USF made 23 trips to the charity stripe and went 19-for-23 from the line. It marked the third consecutive game the Bulls made at least 15 free throws.
The Bulls made 10 three-pointers, shooting 10-for-23 from behind the arc. USF limited UNC to five three-pointers.
Notables
USF evened the all-time series with the Tar Heels (1-1).
Flores' 11 points was a career-high.
Laksa's 10 rebounds was a career-high.
USF has opened the year 3-0 for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
Pujol's 26-point performance is a new career-high and the senior's first back-to-back 20-point outing in her career. It was her 12th double-digit outing in her four-year career.
Laksa's six three-pointers are the most the sophomore has scored in a single game since making six against Houston Jan. 27, 2016.
Laksa has scored at least one three-pointer in seven consecutive games, dating back to last year.
Up Next
USF will face Georgia in the Lucaya Division Championship Saturday at 6:45 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.
To purchase season tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
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