ORLANDO, Feb. 3, 2019 – Junior Alyssa Rader returned to action for the first time since Jan. 8, and bolstered USF with 18 points in a narrow defeat to rival UCF (receiving votes), 63-66, at CFE Arena in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday afternoon in the War On I-4. 
 
In a game of momentum swings, Alyssa Rader (Thornton, Colo.) powered up USF in critical moments to amass 18 points. Her presence back on the Bulls' healthy roster was crucial down the stretch when Shae Leverett (Rincon, Ga.) fouled out. Sophomore Enna Pehadzic (Horsens, Denmark) added 16 points on a career-high tying five three-pointers made while Tamara Henshaw (Palm Coast, Fla.) led all players with eight rebounds. 
 
The Bulls (11-11, 2-6 AAC) fell behind in the first quarter when the Knights forced three turnovers and two fouls to take a 7-0 lead just two minutes in. But the Bulls countered with a 12-2, including four minutes which saw UCF scoreless, to give USF a 15-14 edge after the first quarter. 
 
UCF (19-3, 8-1 AAC) opened the second quarter with a 12-2 run and held a 26-17 advantage by the media break. But Pehadzic single-handedly got USF back in the game with two back-to-back three pointers and it was a one possession game again, 23-26. Henshaw rounded out the 8-0 run with a jumper and the Bulls were down 25-26 with four minutes to go in the second quarter. The Knights then ran off 10 points while the Bulls had just five, including a fourth Pehadzic three-pointer, and the Bulls were down 30-36 at the halftime. 
 
In the third quarter, the Bulls got within four three times, and dug out of an 11-point deficit with a 13-1 run spanning the final two quarters. Rader was the spark USF needed late when Leverett was sidelined with foul trouble, and scored 10 points in the Bulls' run. Rader, who missed the last five games with injury, made a last-second put-back and drew a foul to complete the three-point play to close the third quarter. USF trailed 50-54 heading into the final period. 
 
To start the fourth, Rader gave USF the lead, 55-54, for the first time since the first half with a three-pointer. UCF answered with an 11-2 run, and USF was down 57-65 with three minutes to go. Rader kicked off another 6-0 run to get within two with seconds to go, but USF could not connect on its last two possessions. UCF knocked in a free throw and the Bulls fell to the Knights 63-66 in Orlando. 
 
USF is without senior superstar Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia), freshman Beatriz Jordao (Pombal, Portugal) and freshman Silvia Serrat (Banyoles, Spain) due to season-ending injuries. Senior and leading scorer Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal) is out indefinitely with illness. The unavailable Bulls combine for 43.7 points of the Bulls' offense this season. Rader returned to the lineup today after missing five games due to a concussion. USF currently relies on nine healthy players including five freshman to battle through conference play. 

Key Stats
5 – Pehadzic tied her career high three-pointers made with five makes 
18– Rader scored 18 points in her first game back since Jan. 8.  
86.7 – USF hit 86.7 percent of shots from the charity stripe on a 13-of-15 clip.  

Notable

• Alyssa Rader returned and led the Bulls with 18 points. 
• Enna Pehadzic tied her career high three-pointers made with five makes
• USF outrebounded UCF 36-30. 
• Two Bulls scored in double-figures, Pehadzic (16) and Rader (18). Two or more Bulls have scored in double figures in 21 of USF's 222 games. 

Up Next
USF will continue their road swing at Tulane on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN3. 
 
War on I-4 Rivalry
The War on I-4 represents a long-standing and passionate rivalry between the fan bases of two of the nation's largest and fastest growing universities. The Orlando and Tampa Bay metropolitan areas, which form the fourth-largest media market in the nation, are connected by 100 short miles of Interstate 4 (I-4).
 
The official recognition of the rivalry and the traditional name, first established by the fans, creates an annual series of scored competitions across multiple sports programs. The War On I-4 rivalry series officially began Sept. 21, 2016 with a competition between the two schools' volleyball programs.
 
For more information on the War on I-4 Rivalry, visit https://www.war-on-i4.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 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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