LAS VEGAS, DEC. 21, 2016 – In its third game in three days, the University of South Florida women's basketball team showed no signs of slowing down Wednesday in the Play4Kay Shootout in Las Vegas. The Bulls raced past the de facto home team, UNLV 77-42 at T-Mobile Arena.

The Bulls (10-1) shot 52 percent, five players scoring in double-digits. Sophomore Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) led all scorers with 30-points, shooting 60 percent from the floor (12-of-20). The three-point threat only scored six points from deep, but made three trips to the charity stripe and finished a perfect 4-for-4. Laksa scored at least five points every quarter in 30 minutes of action.

Junior Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Denmark) turned in her second double-double of the tournament with 12 points and a new career high 18 rebounds. Jespersen also added five assists. Laia Flores (Mataro, Spain) and freshman Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) each turned in 11 points, Flores added five rebounds and five assists.

The Bulls never trailed in Wednesday's match, for the first time in the Play4Kay Shootout. USF led by as much as 35 points in the fourth quarter. The Bulls defense held UNLV to single digits in the first and fourth quarter, including a season low eight points in the fourth. USF doubled UNLV in rebounds, 48-23, and every player that saw action grabbed at least one rebound.

Key Stats

12- The Bulls grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, to UNLV's four, led by Jespersen with five.

32 – USF scored 32 points in the paint and limited UNLV to 20.

Notables

Laksa has scored 30-plus points on three different occasions. She has led the team in scoring six times in her sophomore campaign.

This is only the second time this season five players have scored in double-figures.

Flores has tallied at least four assists in all but one game this season.

Up Next

USF will not return to action until after the holidays. The Bulls will host in-state foe Stetson Dec. 30 at the Sun Dome Arena. The game will be available to watch via BullsVision at 7 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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