TAMPA, NOV. 12, 2017 – Four players scored in double figures Sunday as the University of South Florida women's basketball team surged past Houston Baptist at USF Sun Dome Arena. The Bulls outscored the Huskies 32-10 in the fourth quarter for a 90-43 victory.
 
Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) led the Bulls offensively with 26 points, shooting 48 percent from the floor. The junior knocked down four three-pointers and added eight rebounds. Senior Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Denmark) collected her first double-double of the year with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The senior also added three assists and two steals. Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal) also grabbed a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds while senior Laia Flores (Mataro, Spain) filled her stat line with 14 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, five steals and did not commit a turnover. Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) chipped in eight points and nine rebounds.
 
The Bulls were slow to start, shooting 29 percent in the first quarter but slowly worked their way into a rhythm thanks to the energy of Alba Prieto (Seville, Spain), Vanessa Blagmon (Stockbridge, Ga.) and Shae Leverett (Rincon, Ga.) off the bench. The trio combined for 15 points and eight rebounds.
 
QUOTABLES:
Head coach Jose Fernandez on opening weekend:
"We got through the weekend. It was a good opening weekend. We won two games, and now we have a little bit of time to prepare for the next two.
 
KEY STATS:
32: USF shot 54 percent in the final 10 minutes and stretched its lead to 47 points thanks to 32 points in the fourth quarter. The Bulls outscored HBU 32-10.
 
NOTABLES: 

• USF starts its season with a 2-0 record for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
• Laura Ferreira has led the Bulls in rebounds for two-straight outings and averages 12.5 rebounds per game.
• Maria Jespersen recorded her 13^th career double-double, her first #DenmarkDouble of the 2017-18 season.  
• Kitija Laksa has made two-plus three-pointers in her last 10 outings and has gone 17-straight games with at least one trey.
• USF turned in 20+ offensive rebounds for the second consecutive game. The Bulls 67 rebounds were nine rebounds shy of the team record (76, vs. Rollins, Dec. 8, 1980).

 
UP NEXT:
No. 23/22 USF returns to action Friday at Sun Dome Arena. The Bulls will host Arkansas State Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on GoUSFBulls.com via BullsVision.
 
Season tickets are available for purchase, along with three- and five-game flex plans. Reserve your seats at USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls.
 
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF women's basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
 
USF notched its fifth consecutive 20-win season. The Bulls tallied its 20th win in their 24th contest of the season which tied the fastest any program has reached 20 wins. This is the eighth 20-win season in program history and head coach Jose Fernandez has been at the helm for all eight 20-win seasons. The 2014-15 team reached 20 wins in 24 games, and still currently holds the best record for most wins in a season (27).
 
USF has made 13 postseason tournament appearances and had five NCAA Tournament berths in Head Coach Jose Fernandez's 17 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to eight 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 300 games.
– #GoBulls –