Bulls Set to Host Vermont on Monday
Matchup:RV/RV USF Bulls (8-2) vs. Vermont Catamounts (4-5)
Date: Monday, Dec. 17, 2018
Time:7p.m. ET
Location: Yuengling Center, Tampa, Fla.
Broadcast:BullsVision(Jim Louk & Scott Baker)
Radio: Bulls Unlimited (Darek Sharp & Brigid Merenda)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Twitter Updates:@USFWBB
TAMPA, Fla. Dec. 16, 2018 – USF women's basketball will wrap up its home nonconference schedule on Monday night when it hosts Vermont at 7 p.m. in the Yuengling Center.
USF women's basketball (receiving votes) will take on the Catamounts in the Yuengling Center for its fourth consecutive home game, and final home game of its nonconference slate. The contest against Vermont (4-5) is one of three games for the Bulls this week, as USF will then host Vermont on Monday, before traveling to the Florida Sunshine Classic to face Creighton (Dec. 20) and Virginia (Dec. 21) in Orlando.
The Bulls are on a four-game winning streak, after defeating Grambling State 63-30 on Saturday night. The streak dates back to Nov. 24, when USF defeated UCLA 60-56 at the Paradise Jam. USF has won its last three games at the Yuengling Center, and will not return home to Tampa until Jan. 8 for its conference home opener against UCF for the War on I-4.
The Bulls were led by junior
Alyssa Rader (Thornton, Colo.) with 16 points, 16 rebounds and three assists against Grambling State. The 16 rebounds are a season high for the 6-3 post, but the 16 points tie her season high for her third double-double of the year. Rader was one of four Bulls that scored in double-figures, including freshman
Sydni Harvey (Nashville, Tenn.) who led USF in scoring with 18 points. She added three rebounds, three assists and a steal to her line.
Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal) dished out 11 points, three assists, two steals and five rebounds despite being her drive being locked down by Grambling State's Shakyla Hill.
Enna Pehadzic (Horsens, Denmark) continued her standout performance from last week with 10 points and six rebounds, for her second career night scoring in double figures.
Rebounding is a major element to USF's success, and the Bulls out-performed GSU on the glass 53-34. USF also knocked down 20-of-24 from the charity stripe and had four Bulls combine for 10 dimes on the night.
Three Bulls are averaging in double figures on the season, led by
Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal) with 15.5 points per game, while freshman Harvey is adding 13.8 points per game and Jordao is contributing 12.7 points per game. Rader leads USF on the boards with 9.2 rebounds per game.
Sharp Shooter
Jordao is a presence in the paint for the Bulls and is an expert in getting to the rim, she owns a conference-leading 68.9 percent field goal efficiency. The freshman's shooting efficiency comes on a 51-of-74 clip and is ranked seventh nationally.
Boards for the Bulls
Rebounding has been the secret weapon for the Bulls, who are out-performing opponents on the boards by 14.2 per game, good enough for fifth nationally.
The Opponent
Vermont is coming off of a close 55-58 loss to Yale at home. The Catamounts have only played one road contest this season, a 63-71 victory over New Jersey Insitute of Technology on Dec. 2. Vermont is used to tightly matched contests, averaging 55.3 points per game while its opponents average 56.0 points each contest.
The Catamounts are led by Hannah Crymble with 18.3 points per game and a team-leading 6.0 rebounds per game. Four Catamounts have started each of its nine contests including Crymble. Shutting down Crymble's high-octane offense will be critical to USF's success, as the 6-foot-3 forward has already put up one 30-point night in a three-point loss to Rhode Island on Nov. 18 – the same night senior wing
Laura Ferreira put up her 34-point night.
Notable
- USF is on a four-game winning streak and is 8-2 on the season, including a 6-0 record at home.
- Beatriz Jordao is The American Freshman of the Week after earning 14 points, four rebounds and four blocks in 17 minutes in Sunday's 63-30 victory over George Washington.
- Laura Ferreira is USF's leading scorer this season with 15.5 points per game, boosted by her 34-point game over Oklahoma, which leads The American for a single-game point total by an individual.
- Beatriz Jordao leads the American Athletic Conference in field goal percentage with 68.9 percent, which is good enough for seventh nationally.
- Rebounding is a key for USF, who is out-performing opponents on the boards by 14.2, a good enough margin for fifth nationally.
- This is USF's last home matchup of its nonconference schedule, and will not return to the Yuengling Center until Jan. 8.
Follow the Action
A free live stream is available on GoUSFBulls.com with
Jim Louk and Scott Baker on the call. Fans can follow the action with live radio on Bulls Unlimited and AM 1040 with
Darek Sharp on the call and Brigid Merenda adding color. Live stats will also be available on GoUSFBulls.com.
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.
--#GoBulls –
