No. 22 Bulls Return Home Friday

No. 22 Bulls Return Home Friday

Matchup: No. 22 USF (7-2) vs. Southern University (1-6)
Date: Friday, Dec. 15
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Sun Dome Arena
Watch: BullsVision | http://bit.ly/2Ci58I2
Radio: AM 1040 | Bulls Unlimited (Darek Sharp)
Follow: Listen | Stats | Twitter

TAMPA, DEC. 14, 2017 – The USF women's basketball team has a short return home Friday, playing host to Southern University at the Sun Dome at 7 p.m.
 
The game will be broadcast via BullsVision on GoUSFBulls.com. USF's radio broadcast can be heard on USF Bulls Unlimited or on AM 1040.
 
It is the Bulls' first home game in the month of December and the first time USF will play at the Sun Dome since Nov. 20. The Bulls are 4-0 at home this season.
 
USF (7-2) looks to rebound from its 79-74 loss at Oklahoma last week. The Bulls outrebounded the Sooners, 35-33, but were outscored, 38-28, in the paint. Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) led the team in scoring with 21 points, her sixth 20-point outing this season. The junior averages 23.2 points per game and ranks top 10 in the country in scoring, three-point field goals per game, three-point field goal percentage and is fourth with a 96.4 free throw percentage.
 
Through nine games, Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Denmark) averages 17.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Against Oklahoma, the forward scored her 1,000th point, becoming the Bulls' 24th 1,000-point scorer in program history. Laia Flores (Mataro, Spain) leads the league with an assist-turnover ratio of 4.82, which ranks third in NCAA Division I.
 
PROMOTIONS
Ugly Holiday Sweater T-shirts
The first 250 fans at Friday's game will receive USF themed ugly holiday sweater T shirts.
 
Teddy Bear Toss
Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear to donate or can purchase one at Gate A.
How it works:
 
Step One: Bring a teddy bear to the game or purchase one at the game for $5 (cash only) at the marketing table near Gate A.
Step Two: Register your bear at the marketing table at Gate A
Step Three: At halftime, prizes will be placed all over the floor of the Sun Dome
Step Four: If you hit a prize, it's yours! Meet back at the marketing table at Gate A to claim your prize
Step Five: USF women's basketball will donate your teddy bear to the Foster Angels of Hillsborough County for the holidays.
 
Coke Student Club
The Coke Student Club, located at Gate D, will be open to students one hour prior to tip. In true holiday spirit, the club will provide hot chocolate and holiday cookies.
 
THE OPPONENT
Southern (1-6) will play its second game in three days Friday. The Jaguars dropped a 68-56 decision at Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach Wednesday. Southern looks to pick up its first win since Nov. 11.
 
USF and Southern will meet for the third time in program history. The Bulls hold a 2-0 series advantage and will face the Jaguars for the third time in Tampa. The pair last met on Dec. 21, 2008. The Bulls ran away with a 100-47 victory.
 
NOTABLES
  • In 50 games since 2014, USF has compiled a 42-8 record at home, including a 21-5 record in The American.
  • The Bulls will play the first of four games in seven days Friday.
  • Laksa has made two-plus three-pointers in her last 17 outings and has gone 24 straight games with at least one trey. 
  • Maria Jespersen sits at 1,003 points and 654 rebounds. Heading into Friday, Jespersen needs seven more boards to move up to 10th on all-time list, a position currently held by Joyce Lewis (658, 1981-83).
  • Laia Flores leads the league in three different categories: assist-turnover ratio (4.82), assists (53) and assists per game (5.9). She ranks in the top 25 nationally in all three categories.
  • USF is currently ranked No. 22 in the AP and No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Bulls started the season ranked No. 23/22 and peaked at No. 16 (AP – week 4) and No. 16 (Coaches – weeks 3-4 ). USF has been ranked in both polls every week. The program's highest ranking in both polls was in 2016, when the Bulls were ranked No. 15 (AP – Jan. 18 | Coaches – Jan. 19).
  • Former USF All-American Courtney Williams ('16) is among 13 Olympic and/or FIBA World Cup gold medalists, on a roster of 29 athletes today that were named to the 2017-20 USA Basketball Women's National Team pool.
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 –

 
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