USF Athletics

No. 21 Bulls Motivated for Oklahoma on Sunday

November 17, 2018

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• USF Game Notes

Matchup:No. 21 USF Bulls (3-0) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (2-0)
Date:  Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Florida // Yuengling Center
Watch Live: BullsVision(Jim Louk)
Radio: AM 1040 (DarekSharp & Brigid Merenda)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Twitter Updates:@USFWBB
 
TAMPA, Fla.  Nov. 18, 2018 –No. 21 USF women's basketball is motivated and set to take on Big 12 foe Oklahoma on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Yuengling Center, searching for its fourth straight win to remain perfect on the young season.   
 
USF is battling adversity in the form of losing star-studded senior wing All-America candidate Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) to a season-ending injury in Thursday night's blasting of Bethune-Cookman, 88-39. Young Bulls will look to step up on Sunday to defend the Yuengling Center against Oklahoma, led by veteran coach Sherri Coale in her 23^rdseason with the Sooners. 
 
The reigning NCAA Team of the Week, USF has held all opponents to under 50 points this season, including current Big Ten champion Ohio State, six-time America East champion Albany, and in-state opponent MEAC powerhouse Bethune-Cookman. 
 
Before going down in the third quarter, Laksa led the Bulls with 19 points on the night, and senior wing Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal) also shared the team high with 19 points of her own. Two other Bulls scored in double-figures, with current American Athletic Conference Beatriz Jordao (Pombal, Portugal) scoring 12 points and Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) dished out 10 on the night. 
 
The Opponent
This is the third meeting between the two programs, and Sherri Coale and Jose Fernandez have split the meetings. Oklahoma has won its first two games this season, first defeating Western Kentucky 90-83, then taking down Northwestern State 93-56. The Sooners have four players averaging double-figures through two games, led by sophomore guard Shaina Pellington with 28.5 points per game. Freshman guard Taylor Robertson is averaging 22 points-per-game and freshman forward Madi Williams is averaging a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds per game. 
 
Freshmen of the Week
Sunday's game will feature the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week Beatriz Jordao and the Big 12 Freshman of the Week Taylor Robertson. The two freshmen play different positions, but it could be a test of conference rookies as both Oklahoma and USF depend on two or more freshmen in their starting lineups.
 
Notable

• This is the third meeting between the two programs and the series is tied 1-1. Both Jose Fernandez and Sherri Coale were at the helm for the Bulls and the Sooners, respectively, for both matchups. 
• USF has held all of its opponents to under-50 points this season. 
• This is the third consecutive season USF has started off 3-0. 
• Young Bulls will be looking to step into the void left by Kitija Laksa, but experienced young players and a deep, six-player freshman class will bolster USF through adversity. 

 
Watch Live
Bulls fans are encouraged to attend the Yuengling Center for the game, but the game will be broadcast live by BullsVision on GoUSFBulls.com with Jim Louk on the call. For a radio experience, fans should follow the call of Darek Sharp with Brigid Merenda adding color on AM 1040 radio. 
 
Promotions
USF, the official hosts of the NCAA Women's Final Four, will operate Sunday afternoon's game with the Final Four in mind, featuring special promotions such as the appearance of the Women's Final Four trophy and backdrop at Gate A for photo opportunities.There will also be a Kids Zone at Gate A including an outdoor bounce house, face painting, and a sign-making station for Family Day at the Yuengling Center. 

After the game, the Bulls will be signing autographs for fans. 

Additionally, Sunday, Nov. 18 is the country of Latvia's 100^th independence day, and USF features two outstanding Latvian players – Laksa, who's role this season suddenly changed with her knee injury, and Janeta Rozentale, a freshman who will be looking to grow into a role at forward for the Bulls. 
 
Sunday is also head coach Jose Fernandez's birthday. 
 
Tickets
Fans can purchase tickets at USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls, or upon arrival at the Yuengling Center. USF students are always admitted for free. 
 
About USF Women's Basketball
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 sixth consecutive 20-win season and fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017-18. It marked the ninth 20-win season in program history, with head coach Jose Fernandez at the helm for all nine. The Bulls posted 26 wins in 2017-18, just shy of the program record of 27 set in 2008-09 and 2014-15. 
 
USF has made 14 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 18 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to nine 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 300 games.