No. 22 Bulls Face FIU Sunday

No. 22 Bulls Face FIU Sunday

Matchup: No. 22 USF (8-2) vs. FIU (2-7)
Date: Sunday, Dec. 17
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Rick Case Arena (Nova Southeastern)
Watch: N/A
Radio: AM 1040 | Bulls Unlimited (Darek Sharp)
Follow: Listen | Stats | Twitter
 
TAMPA, DEC. 17, 2017 – In a quick turnaround, the USF women's basketball team will play FIU Sunday. Due to FIU's om-campus graduation, the pair will meet at Rick Case Arena on the campus of Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale.
 
USF (8-2) is fresh off a 108-48 victory over Southern University Friday night. Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) made history scoring 40 points in three quarters of action. The junior made 11-consecutive three-pointers a new all-time NCAA record in any division. Her 4.90 three-point field goals per game leads the country.
 
The Bulls average 80.1 points and 43.8 rebounds per game and have made at least nine three-pointers as a team in their last six games. Against Southern, USF set a new program record with 21 three-point field goals. The current NCAA record is 22 set by FGCU at Abilene Christian on Dec. 3.
 
THE OPPONENT
FIU (2-7) will play its first game in nearly two weeks Sunday. The Panthers last played on Dec. 4 and suffered a 62-51 setback at Morgan State.  FIU is led by Kiandre'a Pound with 13.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
 
USF and FIU will meet for the 20th time in program history. The Bulls hold a 12-7 series advantage and will face the Panthers for the 11th time on the road. The pair last met on Dec. 1, 2016. The Bulls ran away with a 91-41 victory. Laia Flores (Mataro, Spain) set a new conference and program record with 17 assists while the team connected for a then program record 16 three-point field goals.
 
NOTABLES
  • The Bulls will play the second of four games in seven days Sunday.
  • USF is 1-1 in road games.
  • While the game will be played on a neutral site, it will still be considered a road game for the Bulls.
  • Laksa has made two-plus three-pointers in her last 18 outings and has gone 25 straight games with at least one trey. 
  • Maria Jespersen moved to 10th on all-time rebounding list thanks to seven rebounds on Friday. Jespersen has tallied 661 rebounds in four years. The senior needs 68 more rebounds to move into the ninth spot.
  • Laia Flores leads the league in three different categories: assist-turnover ratio (4.27), assists (64) and assists per game (6.4). She ranks in the top 20 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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