TAMPA, FLA., FEB. 23, 2019– Redshirt sophomore Shae Leverett starred in a career-high night, amassing 20 points and 18 rebounds in USF's 55-46 victory over Wichita State for USF's third straight win, and head coach Jose Fernandez's 350^thcareer win on Saturday night 
 
Leverett lifted USF to its first ever defeat of the Shockers (11-15, 4-9 AAC) and in their first visit to Tampa. The Bulls (15-12, 6-7 AAC) sealed their third straight victory in the final minutes of the game with a 13-2 run. The win is a landmkark win for Fernandez who earned his 350^thcareer win in 19 seasons at the helm for USF. 
 
Leverett's impressive line came from drawing fouls, sending her to the free-throw line 11 times where she connected on 10 gimmes. The 6-foot-2 center shot 50 percent from the floor on a 5-of-10 clip. She pulled down nine offensive boards and nine offensive boards, singlehandedly helping USF edge Wichita State 51-to-35 in rebounding. 
 
Two other Bulls finished in double-figure scoring, Enna Pehadzic (Horsens, Denmark) and Luize Septe (Ventspils, Latvia) each had 11 points on the night. Pehadzic added four rebounds while Septe added six rebounds and a career-high tying four blocks. Deadly defender Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) finished with 12 rebounds, six points, two blocks, one steal and an assist. 
 
Elisa Pinzan (Murano, Italy), had four points and four rebounds to go along with her game-high seven dimes and three steals. Alyssa Rader timed a much-needed field goal with a free throw for three critical points which went along with her two rebounds, two assists and four blocks in 12 minutes. In total, seven Bulls saw action with five amassing more than 31 minutes. 


USF hit the first basket with a Leverett layup, but Wichita State rolled to a 7-1 run part way through the first quarter. USF closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run, capped by a Septe three-pointer to lead 11-7.
 
The run extended to a 12-0 run just one minute into the second quarter when USF hit four straight free throws. Leverett proceeded to take and make eight free throws in the second quarter, and by halftime, she led USF with a career-high tying 15 points and eight rebounds. 
 
The Shockers cut the deficit to as little as five, but five straight Pehadzic points extended USF's lead to double figures. Wichita State hit a three-pointer with seven seconds left in the half to get back to single figures and the Bulls took a 34-25 advantage to the locker room.  

In the second half, Wichita State hit a stride with a 10-3 run to close the gap. USF kept a small cushion until the final minutes of the third quarter when Wichita State tied the game at 41-41, and it was anyone's game in the final period. 
 
In the fourth quarter, Wichita State tied the game at 43-43 with 6:55 to go before USF's decisive 13-2 run.

Quotable
Head coach Jose Fernandez 
"One thing that we have done all year is rebounded and finish around the paint, and that was the difference tonight. The amount of second and third opportunities that we got and how we shot from the free-throw line."
 
"My staff and I approach every game like it's the last game of the year because every game is so important. It's been different this year because of the players we have on the floor. But we've won three in a row. If you look at all of our league losses, take away the Connecticut game and the UCF game here, all those other games are one-to-two possession games at the end. We were still getting to know each other, who we are, expectations, responsibilities, time and score, because we had a lot of players that had never been in those positions before. And if you look at our last three games, what we've done in the fourth quarter, I think we've learned from that. That's a credit to them and the staff."
 
Key Stats 
20 – Shae Leverett had a career high 20 points. 
18–Shae Leverett had a career high 18 rebounds.
51-35– USF out-rebounded Wichita State 51-35.

Notables

• Shae Leverett had a career high 20 points and a career high 18 rebounds. 
• The win is head coach Jose Fernandez's 350^thcareer win in his 19 seasons with USF. 
• USF has won its last three contests.
• USF used just seven players in the contest and five Bulls played 31 or more minutes.
• The Bulls routed the Shockers with a decisive 13-2 run to end the game. 
• 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 11 games. Freshman guard Sydni Harvey missed her third straight game (concussion protocol).

 
Up Next
USF will hit the road for a two-game swing trip, taking on Houston on Wednesday Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. before traveling to Cincinnati on March 2 at 12 p.m. 
 
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 350 games. 
–  #GoBulls–