By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, JAN. 6, 2018 – USF set a new program home attendance record with 6,659 fans filling the Sun Dome to watch the Bulls' 100-49 loss to top-ranked UConn on Saturday night.

Alyssa Rader (Thornton, Colo.) gave No. 22 USF (12-4, 2-1) a big boost off the bench with 11 points and six rebounds after going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Rader, Alba Prieto, Shae Leverett and Vanessa Blagmon combined to score 23 points off the bench.

Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Denmark) led all USF starters with nine points and eight rebounds. Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) finished with eight points and six rebounds while Laia Flores (Mataro, Spain) added seven points and four boards.

UConn (13-0, 3-0) shot nearly 54 percent from the field and finished with four players in double figures. Napheesa Collier led the way with 25 points, 11 rebounds and posted four of her team's 10 blocks. UConn's defense limited the Bulls to a 27.8 shooting percentage and scored 24 points off 14 USF turnovers.

UConn jumped out to a 33-11 lead in the opening quarter and led, 51-20, at the half after USF shot 24 percent from the field, including a 2-for-14 performance from beyond the arc. Flores led the Bulls in the opening half with seven points while Henshaw had four points and five rebounds.

Quotable
USF head coach Jose Fernandez on UConn's ability to play at an elite level:
"I think we've got a pretty good basketball team. The start of the game, you prepare, you watch film and you get your (players) ready for their speed, their toughness, their aggressiveness and how hard they cut and how hard they play. Even with your male scrimmage guys, you can't mimic the pace and the way that they play. With Gabby, Pheesa and Katie Lou, you've got three All-Americans from last year's team."

Fernandez on USF's performance:
"I thought the ball didn't go in the basket for us and we didn't defend and go to the glass as we usually do. I think we're a very good offensive team, but for us to have a chance, we can't shoot as poorly as we did."

"The bright spot for us was I thought our bench – Vanessa Blagmon, Alyssa Rader, Shae Leverett – those guys got some really, really good minutes experience-wise."

Alyssa Rader on her approach while facing UConn for the first time:
"It doesn't feel good to lose, but no matter who you're playing in the country, whether it be No. 1 or 300-something, I think you need to go out and play with as much effort as possible."

Fernandez on the importance of the Bulls bouncing back quickly after the loss to UConn:
"It's one game. This can't affect Temple. We've got to put this behind us. We've got to go on the road and get Temple and get ready for UCF at home. Then we're on the road to Wichita State and Memphis. We'll see (UConn) again up there and we plan on seeing them again for the conference championship."

Key Stats
42 – UConn outscored USF, 42-18, in the paint, which helped the Huskies shoot 53.6 percent from the field.
33 – The Huskies seized the momentum by outscoring USF, 33-11, in the opening quarter.
27.8 – USF's shooting percentage from the field. The Bulls headed into the game with a 46.2 percent shooting average.

Notable

• With 6,659 fans filling the Sun Dome, USF broke the program's previous home attendance record of 6,634 set against UConn on Feb. 27, 2016. USF-UConn has drawn an average of 6,284 fans at the Sun Dome since 2014.
• Kitija Laksa was held scoreless for only the second time in her career and the first time since Dec. 30, 2015 against Mississippi State.
• Alyssa Rader has scored in double figures four times in her first seven games as a Bull.

Up Next
USF travels to Philadelphia to take on Temple on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. (TV: ESPN3).

The Bulls return to the Sun Dome for a War on I-4 showdown with rival UCF on Sunday, Jan. 14 at noon (TV: ESPNU). Reserve your seats at USFBullsTix.com.
 
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.