CINCINNATI, OHIO, JAN. 3, 2018 – For the fourth straight season, the USF women's basketball team opened the American Athletic Conference slate 2-0. The Bulls downed Cincinnati, 69-46, at Saint Ursula Academy in Ohio.
Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal) had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls (12-3, 2-0 The American), who held its fourth team to less than 50 points this season. USF has not allowed more than 46 points against conference opponents.
The Bulls utilized a 10-0 run in the first quarter and a 7-0 run in the second quarter to take a 29-18 halftime lead. Ferreira tallied eight points and six rebounds in the first 20 minutes.
Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Denmark) grabbed two of her eight rebounds in the first half and the senior surpassed 700 career rebounds to become the eighth player in program history to reach 1,000 points and 700 rebounds.
Jespersen finished with 25 points, netting 15 in the second half. The Bulls fended off a late third quarter rally by the Bearcats (9-6, 1-1 The American) and took their largest lead of the game at 23 points in the fourth quarter.
Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) turned in 12 points, six rebounds and five assists while
Laia Flores (Mataro, Spain) added seven points, five rebounds and four assists. Flores shot 50 percent from the floor (3-for-6).
Key Stats
21– The Bulls forced 15 turnovers and scored 21 points off Cincinnati miscues.
Notables
- The Bulls improved to 55-17 all-time in The American.
- Maria Jespersen's eight rebounds moved her to 707 career rebounds, which rank 10th in the all-time career rebounds list. The senior only needs 23 rebounds to pass Ezira Parsons ('06) and move into ninth on the career list.
- Laura Ferreira's double-double was her fourth this season and the sixth of her career.
- Jespersen has scored 25 points three other times this season. The senior's career high is 26 points, which she reached on four difference occasions last season.
- The Bulls held a team to less than 50 points in back-to-back games for the first time since defeating East Carolina and Memphis last season.
79-48, East Carolina, Jan. 14, 2017
79-49, Memphis, Jan. 17, 2017
Up Next
USF welcomes No. 1 UConn to the Sun Dome Saturday. The top-25 showdown is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip and will air on ESPN3 and SNY.
About USF Women's Basketball
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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 –
