No. 21 Bulls Face UCF in War on I-4 Finale

No. 21 Bulls Face UCF in War on I-4 Finale

Matchup: 22/21USF (21-5, 10-2 The American) at UCF (17-8, 9-3 The American)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 18
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Orlando, Fla. | CFE Arena
Watch: CBS Sports Network
Radio: AM 1040 (Darek Sharp | Brigid Merenda)
Follow: Listen | Live Stats |  Twitter

TAMPA, FEB. 17, 2018 – It's been 38 years since the USF women's basketball team has lost to its cross-state rival on the road. In fact, the Bulls have only lost to the Knights eight times in Orlando since their first meeting in 1973. All eight losses came before 1980. On Sunday, the Bulls look to tally another victory, this time fighting for the remaining three points in the War on I-4 rivalry series.  
 
With only four games remaining in the regular season, the Bulls are in sole possession of second place in the American Athletic Conference standings but at their heels is UCF, in third place.   
 
The Bulls (21-5, 10-2 The American) carry a six-game winning streak into Sunday's match-up and look to build off its 62-45 victory over the Knights in January. USF boasts an 11.3 scoring margin in league play and averages 70.2 points per game in The American. USF's offense ranks second in the league, only behind No. 1 UConn.
 
The one-two punch of Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) and Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Denmark) has knocked out opponents as the pair has led the team in scoring in all but two outings this season. Laksa leads USF in scoring with 20.1 points per game; Jespersen follows at 18.1 points per game and adds 9.5 rebounds per game. The senior forward leads the league with 14 double-doubles this season.
 
Laia Flores (Mataro, Spain) continues to steer the Bulls' offense with a league best 6.2 assists per game. The senior is chasing USF's single season record of 200 single season assists which she set as a junior. The point guard has 162 assists this season which ranks 16th in NCAA Division I.
 
THE OPPONENT
With only four games remaining in the regular season, UCF (17-8, 9-3 The American) must win out for a chance at the NCAA Tournament. The Knights are No. 46 in the RPI but went 8-5 in their nonconference season. UCF has three players averaging double-figures, led by Zakiya Saunders with 14.5 points per game.
 
The Bulls and Knights will meet for the 36th time in program history. The pair first met in 1973 and USF owns a 26-9 series record. The Bulls have won 20 of the last 21 meetings and have not lost in Orlando since Dec. 10, 1980.
 
NOTABLES
  • USF has already collected three points in the War on I-4 thanks to a 62-45 victory at the Sun Dome (Jan. 14).
  • 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 7-2 on the road this season and are 5-1 on the road in The American.
  • 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 69 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 14 double-doubles this season.
  • Laia Flores leads the league in three different categories: assist-turnover ratio (3.86), assists (162) 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 18 times this season and are 17-1 when limiting teams to 65-points or less. The Bulls have not allowed more than 60 points in four of their last five outings.
  • 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 sixth consecutive 20-win season in an 84-65 romp of No. 13 Ohio State. This is the ninth 20-win season in program history and head coach Jose Fernandez has been at the helm for all nine 20-win seasons. The 2014-15 team holds the 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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