No. 22/21 USF Hosts Play4Kay Event Wednesday

No. 22/21 USF Hosts Play4Kay Event Wednesday

TAMPA, FEB. 13, 2018 – No. 22/21 USF hosts SMU Wednesday night in its annual Play4Kay event. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on the American Digital Network at the Sun Dome.
 
The Bulls (20-5, 9-2 The American) look to extend their win streak to six games and earn their 10th conference win this season. USF returned to the AP Poll at No. 22 after a six-week hiatus. The Bulls are fresh off a 19-point romp of No. 13 Ohio State. The Bulls offense is red hot, averaging 86.0 points per game last week.
 
In the month of February, USF has converted 54 of 65 free throw attempts. For each free throw made, fans have the opportunity to pledge funds for each free throw the team makes during the month of February. There are two ways to contribute to the Bulls' fund: per free throw or a one-time donation.
 
#Play4Kay
Wednesday's contest will be the Bulls' annual Play4Kay Pink game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and join the team in raising awareness for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Prior to the game, fans can participate in a silent auction at Gate A. Limited quantities of pink shirts will also be for sale. All proceeds will go toward the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
 
The first 250 fans will receive a free pink head band.
 
Uniting players, coaches, and fans to do something for the greater good that far exceeds wins and losses on the court, the Play4Kay initiative is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund's largest fundraiser.
 
The "pink phenomenon" in women's basketball began during the 2004-2005 basketball season, when Coach Yow's cancer recurred after being in remission for 17 years. Play4Kay is the grassroots fundraising initiative of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. It was originally called Think Pink, later Pink Zone, and most recently and finally, Play4Kay. Women's basketball teams wore pink in honor of Coach Yow and those battling cancer. In 2007, this movement resulted in the establishment of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and its Play4Kay initiative.
 
THE OPPONENT
SMU (10-15, 4-8 The American) has won three of its last four games but is 1-11 on the road this season. The Mustangs are led by McKenzie Adams with 17.2 points per game. SMU averages 42.8 rebounds per game and holds a +4.6 rebounding advantage this season.  
 
The Bulls and Mustangs will meet for the 12th time in program history. The pair first met in 2001 and USF has never lost to SMU. The Bulls have won all nine meetings since the pair joined The American in 2014, including two wins in the conference tournament. In their last match-up, the Bulls defeated the Mustangs, 62-55 in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.  
 
NOTABLES
  • USF's best finish in The American was a 15-3 (.833) mark in 2014-15. The American shifted to a 16-game schedule in 2016-17 season and the Bulls finished 11-5 (.688)
  • The Bulls are 10-1 at home this season, including a 4-1 record at home in The American. Since 2014, the Bulls are 48-9 at the Sun Dome.
  • Throughout the month of February, the Bulls will compete in a national fundraiser for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. For every free throw made, fans can pledge funds toward the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The Bulls current free throw tally is 54 made free throws.
  • Kitija Laksa was named the espnW, USBWA, American Athletic Conference and the Citizen Naismith Women's Player of the Week.
  • Maria Jespersen has a league-best 13 double-doubles this season.
  • Laia Flores leads the league in three different categories: assist-turnover ratio (3.71), assists (156) and assists per game (6.2). She ranks in the top 21 nationally in all three categories.
  • The Bulls have held opponents to 65-points or less 17 times this season and are 16-1 when limiting teams to 65-points or less.
  • USF is currently No. 22 in the AP poll and is No. 21 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 the coaches' poll every week and has received votes in every AP Poll. The program's highest ranking in both polls was in 2016, when the Bulls were ranked No. 15 (AP – Jan. 18 | Coaches – Jan. 19).
 
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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