Bulls to Host Wichita State in Military Appreciation Game
Matchup:USF Bulls (14-12, 5-7 AAC) vs. Wichita State Shockers (11-14, 4-8 AAC)
Date: Saturday Feb. 23, 2019
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Tampa, Fla., Yuengling Center
Radio: AM 1040&
Bulls Unlimited(
Darek Sharp & Brigid Merenda)
Watch:GoUSFBulls.com
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Twitter Updates:@USFWBB
TAMPA, Fla. Feb. 22, 2019 –USF women's basketball will host Wichita State at the Yuengling Center for the first time in series history on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in USF's military appreciation game.
Last Time Out
The Bulls are on a two-game winning streak, powered by sophomore wing
Enna Pehadzic (Horsens, Denmark) who has combined for 55 points in USF's last two contests. Pehadzic powered USF to a thrilling 63-50 victory when she scored 16 points in the fourth quarter en route to a career-high 35-point night against ECU. The Bulls charged to a 19-0 run in the fourth quarter to route ECU.
Freshman
Sydni Harvey (Nashville, Tenn.) leads USF in scoring with 12.3 points per game, but has missed the last two contests due to concussion protocol. Pehadzic is right behind with 11.5 points per game. In conference play, she leads the Bulls with 16.1 points per game.
Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) leads USF on the boards with 7.7 per game and is also one of USF's deadliest defenders.
Military Appreciation
USF is honored to celebrate and appreciate America's military in the annual military appreciation game on Saturday night. Any military, current or formerly serving, will receive four tickets to Saturday's game at the box office with a military ID. Additionally, a sign making station and face painter will be located at Gate A, while a bounce house will be outside Gate A. Children 12 and under will receive free admission to the game.
Pehadzic Power
Pehadzic scored a career-high 35 points in USF's victory at ECU, including 16 fourth-quarter points to seal the win. The 35 points is the highest by any American Athletic Conference player this season in a single game, outscoring fellow teammate
Laura Ferreira who scored 34 in November. Pehadzic has scored 20 or more points in USF's last three contests. Prior to December, Pehadzic had never scored in double figures and has since done so 15 times. From sleeper to darling, Pehadzic has stepped up to help USF in its time of need, with five day-one starters on the bench due to injury in 2018-19.
Going for 350
Head Coach
Jose Fernandez won his 349
thgame on Wednesday night in Greenville, N.C. when the Bulls defeated ECU, and is looking for his 350
thcareer win on Saturday night. Fernandez owns a 349-255 all-time record, all coming at USF over 19 seasons.
Play4Kay National Free Throw Challenge
USF is participating in the Play4Kay National Free Throw Challenge, where fans have the opportunity to pledge per free throw made by USF during the month of February. Help USF get to the top of the leaderboard by visiting KayYow.com and donating to USF's team page.
Battered Bulls
South Florida has been limited to just nine healthy players and as few as eight recently, with five Bulls carrying the bulk of the minutes. Adversity struck the Bulls this season, who have been without six players at various points of the season, including three Bulls out for the season. Harvey was the lone Bull to play and start in all contests before she missed the last two contests due to concussion protocol.
Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia), USF's returning leading scorer for the 2018-19 campaign and player of the year candidate, suffered a season-ending injury on Nov. 15.
Beatriz Jordao (Pombal, Portugal), after a promising start, will forego the remainder of her freshman campaign when a nagging injury won out to end 2018. Freshman
Silvia Serrat (Banyoles, Spain) is sidelined with a ACL/meniscus tear suffered in the offseason. Senior
Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal) has missed action due to illness.
Alyssa Rader missed five games due to concussion protocol and Harvey has missed two also for concussion protocol.
Boards for the Bulls
Rebounding has been a weapon for the Bulls, who are out-performing opponents on the boards by 10.7 per game, good enough for fifth nationally. USF ranks ninth nationally in total rebounds this season and 10th nationally in rebounds per game.
The Opponent
Wichita State Shockers
Wichita State comes to the Yuengling Center for the first ever time to see USF in the all-time series history. However, USF has played in Wichita twice and lost both contests, most recently a 56-64 loss in Jan. 2018. But not all Shockers are strangers to USF, with assistant coach at WSU Jeff Osterman previously serving on USF's coaching staff.
Wichita State dropped its last contest against UCF on Wednesday night, 49-57, but defeated SMU last weekend 53-42. The Shockers are led by Carla Bremaud with 9.8 points per game, and on the boards by Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage with 5.8 per game. They currently sit in 10
thplace in the league with a 4-8 conference record.
Notable
Follow the Action
Fans can follow the action a live stream by BullsVision on GoUSFBulls.com. Live radio will be on AM 1040 and on BullsUnlimited in progress after another USF sporting event wraps up with
Darek Sharp and Brigid Merenda on the call. Live stats will be available on GoUSFBulls.com.
Up Next
USF will hit the road for the last time for a two-game road swing at Houston on Feb. 26 and at Cincinnati on March 2.
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 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.
--#GoBulls –
