TAMPA, JAN. 23, 2019 –  USF overcame a 12-point deficit and held Memphis to a one-point third quarter in a gritty setback that came down to the final minute of play, when Memphis ran for 12 straight points and USF fell 47-40. 
 
Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) had a breakout night for USF, scoring a career-high 16 points in a double-double performance. She had 11 rebounds to reach her double-double, two assists, a block and a steal on the night. Shae Leverett (Rincon, Ga.) neared a triple double with 12 rebounds, eight points, and a career-high seven blocks. 
 
Down 30-24 at the break, USF (11-8, 2-3 AAC) came out in the third quarter and held Memphis (8-10, 3-2 AAC) to just one point in the 10-minute period. USF scored 12 points in the paint to take a 36-31 lead into the fourth quarter. USF maintained a 40-35 lead for much of the fourth period until Memphis made a free throw to spark 12 made points. Memphis evened the score with 21 seconds to go, and missed Bulls' field goals and late fouls helped Memphis rack up the score. 
 
USF had one final chance with 13 seconds to go, down 43-40, but USF could not connect and dead ball fouls led Memphis to hit four straight free throws to end the game. 
 
Icy shooting for both USF and Memphis led to the low-scoring game, with 58 of the 87 total points scored coming in the paint. USF was limited to just 1-of-20 from beyond the arc while Memphis was held to just 1-of-7. 
 
 
USF is without senior superstar Kitija Laksa, freshman Beatriz Jordao and freshman Silvia Serrat due to season-ending injuries. Senior and leading scorer Laura Ferreira is out indefinitely with illness, and junior Alyssa Rader is out temporarily. The unavailable Bulls combine for 51.6 points of the Bulls' offense this season. USF currently relies on eight healthy players including five freshman to battle through conference play. 
 

Key Stats
34 – USF had 34 of its 40 points come in the paint  
1 – The Bulls limited the Tigers to just one point in the third quarter 

Notable

• The Bulls came back from a 12-point deficit and led until the final 21 seconds. 
• USF limited Memphis to just one third quarter point. 
• Tamara Henshaw had a double-double with a career-high 16 points and 11 rebound. 
• USF out-rebounded the Tigers 50-29, a standard for the Bulls this season.  

Up Next
USF will travel to Dallas to take on SMU on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The game will be live streamed on the American Digital Network. 
 
About USF Women's Basketball
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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 Fernandezat 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.
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