TAMPA, FLA., FEB. 10, 2019 – Enna Pehadzic led all scorers with 21 points, including a crucial three-pointer with 18 seconds left, in a near-comeback for USF women's basketball, in a close 52-54 loss to Houston on Sunday afternoon in the Yuengling Center. 
 
USF (12-12, 3-7 AAC) beat out Houston on the boards, outrebounding the Cougars by 11, 45-34. Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) had a game-high nine rebounds, while Shae Leverett (Rincon, Ga.) pulled down eight. 
 
Houston (12-11, 5-5) jumped out to an 18-12 first quarter lead and stretched it to as much as eight in the second quarter. The Bulls chipped away and were down just one point at halftime, 28-29. USF came out of the locker room with lockdown defense in the third quarter and limited Houston to just 10 points in the period. But the real comeback began when Alyssa Rader (Thornton, Colo.) sparked a 10-2 run with back-to-back layups that gave USF a 42-39 lead to close the third quarter. 
 
The Bulls stretched their lead to as much as five in the fourth quarter, but 11 unanswered Cougar points resulted in a 50-44 deficit. Pehadzic hit a jumper and Luize Septe (Ventspils, Latvia) made a free throw to get USF within three, but Houston returned the favor and with 1:15 to go the Bulls were down 47-53. 
 
Freshman Elisa Pinzan (Murano, Italy) hit a pair of clutch free throws before Pehadzic hit the shot of the game, a three-pointer with 18 seconds left to get USF within one, 52-53. USF immediately fouled and Houston made just one free throw, giving the Bulls a chance to tie. With 15 seconds left, USF's attempts from Pinzan and Leverett didn't fall to seal the close contest. 
 
Pehadzic led all scorers with 21 points, while Henshaw led with nine rebounds. Henshaw also added seven points, two assists and three steals. Leverett added nine points to her eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Septe had four points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal while Rader had four points, five rebounds, two assists and a block. 

Key Stats
45-34– USF's rebounding advantage including an 22-12 edge in offensive boards.
9-of-18 – Half of USF's field goals were assisted, and three were assisted by Septe. 
7– USF limited Houston to seven second-chance points, a byproduct of USF's 23 defensive rebounds. 

Notable

• Pehadzic led all scorers with 21 points on the night, just one point shy of her career high of 22. 
• Four of the Bulls' last five games have had final results determined by one possession. 
• At halftime, USF had zero second-chance points, but finished with 17 total second-chance points. 
• USF is without star Kitija Laksa (knee), Beatriz Jordao(leg) and Silvia Serrat(knee) for the season. The Bulls also have been without Laura Ferreira (illness) for the past nine games.

Up Next
USF returns to the YuenglingCenter to host Tulsa on Saturday at 1 p.m. (TV: ESPN3). Reserve your seats at USFBullsTix.com.
 
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 Fernandez at 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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