By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., DEC. 2, 2016 – USF improved to 6-0 for the first time since the 2012-13 season by grinding out a 74-59 win over Butler at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Friday night.

Laia Flores scored 13 of her career-high 18 points in the second half after the Bulls trailed at the break for the first time this season. The junior guard from Spain added eight assists and made three of USF's 11 3-pointers just a game after the Bulls broke the school record with 16.

Senior Ariadna Pujol (Spain) scored in double figures for the fifth consecutive game with 13 points. Junior Laura Ferreira (Portugal) reached double digits for the first time this season with 12 points and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

Sophomore Kitija Laksa is just two points shy of 500 in her collegiate career after finishing with 11 points. Freshman Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) posted eight points and eight rebounds, while junior Maria Jespersen (Denmark) added seven points and eight rebounds.

USF improved to 6-0 for the fourth time under head coach Jose Fernandez and is two wins shy of matching the program's best start to a season. This time, the Bulls accomplished the feat in comeback fashion.

Butler (2-5) started the game on a 10-1 run, but the Bulls seized control by the end of the first quarter with a 13-0 run in the final four minutes. USF knocked down three 3-pointers during the scoring sequence and Pujol's basket from long range gave the Bulls a 16-14 lead with 15 seconds remaining.

USF continued on a 16-0 run at the start of the second quarter, with 3-pointers by Laksa and Ferreira, before Butler bounced back. The lead ended up changing hands seven times in the quarter and the Bulldogs headed into the locker room with a 31-30 advantage.

Jespersen's 3-pointer put USF ahead in the first minute of the second half, but it was the Bulls' ability to get aggressive that led to a 52-43 edge by the end of the third quarter. USF made seven free throws during the period and scored 10 points on layups.

Flores shined in the fourth quarter with 11 points and USF's defense held an opponent to less than 66 points for the sixth straight game.

Key Stats:

11 – The number of 3-pointers made by the Bulls after they drained seven in the opening half.

13 – The number of turnovers forced by the Bulls in the second half. USF scored 26 points off 20 total Butler turnovers.

25 – Total points scored by USF players off the bench. Laura Ferreira posted her first game in double figures this season with 12 points.

Notables:

-          USF improved to 3-0 in its all-time series with the Bulldogs and 2-0 in games at Butler. The Bulls posted a 71-67 win at Butler back on Nov. 25, 1990.

-          USF (6-0) is two wins shy of matching the program's best start to a season.

-          Laia Flores scored in double figures for the third time this season with a career-high 18 points. Flores' previous career high of 12 points were scored against Georgia on Nov. 26.

-          Kitija Laksa has made at least one 3-pointer in 10 consecutive games, dating back to last season.

Up Next:

USF will compete its two-game road trip at Arkansas State on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. The Bulls return to the Sun Dome on Wednesday, Dec. 14 to face Saint Francis University at 7 p.m. Reserve your seats at USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls.

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