TAMPA, JAN. 26, 2019 – USF women's basketball, with just eight available players, dropped a 46-44 decision at SMU on Saturday afternoon, behind a career-high 15 rebound effort from Tamara Henshaw who added 13 points for her second consecutive double-double. 
 
Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.), picked up eight offensive rebounds and seven defensive rebounds for her career-best outing on the glass. She teamed up with freshman Sydni Harvey (Nashville, Tenn.) to help USF offensively, the pair combining for 30 of USF's 44 points. Harvey had 17 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. 
 
USF (11-9, 2-4 AAC) also looked to Shae Leverett (Rincon, Ga.) to help on both sides of the floor with nine rebounds, six points, two assists, two steals and an impressive five blocks. 
 
The Bulls found themselves down as much as 12 in the first half, but a 7-0 surge  from Harvey closed the gap to just three points at halftime. USF was down 26-23 at the break, and was down just four points after the third quarter. USF cut the deficit to just two with a little more than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, but USF could not connect in the final minutes to gain the advantage. 
 
USF forced 19 Mustang turnovers and scored 18 points off of turnovers in the setback. USF also held SMU to 30.5 shooting percentage and drew 19 fouls, but the young Bulls could not connect from the charity stripe on the road (10-of-22).
 
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
30– Harvey and Henshaw combined for 30 of USF points. 
18 & 19 – USF forced 18 SMU turnovers and 19 fouls.  

Notable

• The Bulls came back from a 12-point deficit and got within two in the final three minutes of the game.  
• Tamara Henshaw had her second consecutive double-double with a career-high 15 rebounds and 13 points. 
• USF out-rebounded the Tigers 45-39, a standard for the Bulls this season.  
• Two Bulls scored in double-figures in the setback, Harvey (17) and Henshaw (13). Two or more Bulls have scored in double figures in 19 of USF's 20 games. 

Up Next
USF will return home to Tampa to take on Cincinnati at 7 p.m. on Wednesday Jan. 30 in the Yuengling Center.  
 
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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