USF Athletics

USF Returns Home to Face Alabama State on Friday

December 05, 2019

TAMPA (Dec. 5, 2019) – USF returns to the Yuengling Center to begin a two-game homestand, over 10 days, on Friday against Alabama State. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. The Bulls look to stay perfect at home, aiming for their sixth win of the season.
 
GAME 10 | FRI., DEC. 6, 2019 | 5:30 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
 
Live Stats | Watch Live | Listen Live

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: YouTube (GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Analyst)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Analyst)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: USF leads series, 1-0
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
 
-/RV USF BULLS | 5-4
Last Game: Nov. 30 vs. Notre Dame L, 67-51
Next Game: Dec. 15 vs. Idaho, 1 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 359-263 (20th season)
at USF: Same
 
ALABAMA STATE HORNETS | 3-3
Last Game: Dec. 1 vs. Samford, L, 83-48
Next Game: Dec. 12 at Wisconsin, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Freda Freeman-Jackson 
Alma Mater: Alabama State, 1984
Career Record: 311-319 (21st season)
at Alabama State: Same
 
QUICK HITS
- The Bulls have two players - Elena Tsineke (12.0) and Bethy Mununga (11.3) - that are averaging double figures in the scoring column and three others that are netting no less than 7.9 points per game.
 
- USF is coming off a 67-51 loss, on Nov, 30, to 2019 NCAA national runner-up Notre Dame on the final day of the Cancun Challenge ... Elena Tsineke scored a team-high 12 points and Shae Leverett added 11 points ... Bethy Mununga had 10 rebounds.
 
- USF is currently receiving votes (6) in USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll, released on Tuesday ... The Bulls had been ranked as high as No. 20 (Nov. 26) in the Coaches poll.
 
TICKET & PROMOTION INFORMATION
- For ticket questions or to purchase tickets, please visit USFBullsTix.com or call 1-800-GoBulls ... Season and single-game tickets are available; however; courtside seats are sold out for the 2019-20 season.
 
- Friday's game against Alabama State is Celebrate Tampa Bay Day ... The first 500 students will receive USF foam fingers, while Zoo Tampa, the Florida Aquarium and Busch Gardens will have touch tanks available ... The game will be the first game of a women's and men's doubleheader, with the men's team facing Dartmouth at 8 p.m. 
 
- Sunday Dec. 15 will be USF's Holiday Spectacular with the first 500 fans in attendance wearing an ugly sweater receiving a USF basketball holiday ornament along with a 15 percent discount to the USF team store ... The game will be the first game of the final women's and men's doubleheader of the season with the men's team taking on Drexel at 4 p.m. ... In addition, at both games, Santa Claus will be at the Yuengling Center along with a performance by the popular Zooperstars.
 
UP NEXT FOR USF
- Following a break for final exams, the Bulls will conclude their two-game homestand with Idaho on Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. ... The game is the first game of the final women's and men's doubleheader of the season with the men's team taking on Drexel at 4 p.m.
 
- The Green and Gold close out their games before the holiday break at the Duel in the Desert, Dec. 19-21, in Las Vegas ... The Bulls will take on 2019 NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed Mississippi State on Dec. 19 (7 p.m. ET) and either the host UNLV or Virginia on Dec. 21 (3/5 p.m. ET).
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE BULLS
- In just four games Elena Tsineke has already made her presence felt for the Bulls after being cleared to play by the NCAA ... Tsineke missed the first five games of the season after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA ... The native of Greece, Tsineke leads the team in scoring, averaging 12 points per game ... She has scored double figures in three of the four games she has played, including a career-high 19 points against Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 29 in the Cancun Challenge ... She is shooting 42.9 percent (15-for-35) from the field, including 36.8 percent (7-for-19) from behind the arc, and 84.6 percent (11-for-13) from the free-throw line.
 
- Bethy Mununga comes into Friday's game averaging a double-double through the first nine games of the season ... Her 11.3 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per outing are second and first on the team, respectively … She has scored in double figures in six or USF's nine games, including a career-high 16 points against Baylor to go along with a career-high tying 12 rebounds … She's shooting 55.0 percent (44-for-80) from the field on the year which is good enough for second in The American through Dec. 4.
 
- Mununga has recorded a double-double in five of the Bulls' nine games ... She is first in The American, and eighth in the nation, in double-doubles through Dec. 4 ... She has grabbed double-digit rebounds in seven games this season.
 
- Enna Pehadzic is third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.1 points per game on the year ... She is shooting 37.3 percent (22-for-59) from behind the arc ... Her 22 threes made is first in The American and eighth in the nation through Dec. 4 ... She has led the team in scoring in three of the Bulls' nine games this season, including a 20-point effort against Jacksonville on Nov. 5.
 
- Freshman Maria Alvarez is fourth on the team in scoring, and second in assists, averaging 8.9 points and 3.0 assists per game, respectively ... She recorded a career afternoon, pouring in 20 points against VCU on Nov. 15.
 
- Elisa Pinzan had a season-high 14 points against No. 2/2 Baylor on Nov. 19 on 5-for-14 (32.7 percent) shooting from the field, and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from behind the arc ... She is fourth in the AAC in total assists (35) through Dec. 4.
 
SCOUTING ALABAMA STATE
- Alabama State comes into Friday's game with a 3-3 record after its 83-48 loss to Samford on Dec. 1 ... The Lady Hornets have won two of their last three games over Jacksonville State (68-63) on Nov. 20 and Paine (84-58) on Nov. 24, before their loss to Samford.
 
- Ayana Emmanuel leads Alabama State in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game, followed by Aniyah Smith's 12.5 points per outing ... Smith is also the Lady Hornets' top rebounded, grabbing 7.7 rebounds per contest.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE LADY HORNETS
- Friday's game is just the second meeting between USF and Alabama State, with the Bulls holding a 1-0 lead in the all-time series ... The Green and Gold defeated the Lady Hornets, 102-96 in triple overtime on Jan. 22, 1984 in Tampa.
 
LAST TIME OUT
- USF closed out its play in the 2019 Cancun Challenge on Nov. 30 with a 67-51 loss to 2019 NCAA national runner-up Notre Dame ... Elena Tsineke led the Bulls with 12 points and Shae Leverett added 11 points ... Bethy Mununga grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for her seventh double-figure rebounding performance in nine games with USF.
 
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 eighth consecutive 19-win season and eighth straight postseason appearance in 2018-19. The Bulls celebrated two all-conference honorees in Enna Pehadzic and Sydni Harvey.
 
USF has made 15 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 19 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 350 games.
 
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