TAMPA, FEB. 21, 2016 – The University of South Florida women's basketball team had five players in double-digits and it needed every point to overpower Memphis 97-82 Sunday. The No. 19/20 Bulls improved to 14-1 at home in front of a raucous crowd of pink at Sun Dome Arena.
The fourth quarter sealed the Bulls 19th victory of the season, as they outscored Memphis 28-19. USF won the contest despite Memphis shooting 53 percent from the field and 56 percent from behind the arc. Courtney Williams (Folkston, Ga.) led the Bulls with 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists, but Alisia Jenkins (Statesboro, Ga.) was dominant in the paint scoring 20 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in her first double-double outing since returning from an ankle injury.
The Bulls were noticeably more animated on the court with the return of Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal). After missing six games, Ferreira sparked the Bulls with 19 points off the bench and six rebounds. Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) bounced back with 13 points in 21 minutes before leaving the game due to injury. Shalethia Stringfield (Jacksonville, Fla.) guided the Bulls with eight assists, tying her career high, and added 14 points.
Memphis opened the contest on a 9-2 run, and led for most of the first quarter. USF took its first lead, thanks to two free throws from Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Dennmark) for a 17-15 advantage. The play continued to be back and fourth as Memphis guard Mooriah Rowser single handedly kept the Tigers in the game with 16 points in the first half. USF led 43-34 at the half.
The Tigers stayed within striking distance in the third quarter, and outscored the Bulls 29-26 but USF led by six heading into the final frame. The trio of Stringfield, Jenkins and Williams combined for 19 points in the final 10 minutes, Stringfield dishing out three of her eight assists and grabbing two steals as the senior class' experience shined despite the Tigers final push to overtake the Bulls. Williams sparked a 13-0 run to seal the Bulls victory and give them an 87-70 advantage.
USF was just shy of its third 100-point game this season, but outrebounded its opponent for the 20th time this season. USF is 17-3 when outrebounding opponents.
The Bulls return to action Wednesday at Tulsa, the first of a grueling three games in six days.
The Bulls continue to climb in the polls, and have reached their highest rankings in program history. USF has been ranked as highly as No. 15 in the Associated Press poll and No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches Poll this season; both are the highest rankings in program history. USF has appeared in both polls every week and placed as highly as No. 11 on some ballots.
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 –
