UNCASVILLE, Conn., MARCH 10, 2019 – In its sixth straight semifinal appearance, fifth-seeded USF women's basketball fell 45-81 to top-seeded UConn in the American Athletic Conference Championship.
 
Playing in its third game in three days, USF could not connect to even the score with UConn (30-2) in the first half, taking a 15-41 deficit to the locker room. USF shot just 20 percent in the first half, and for just the fourth time this season was outrebounded by its opponent in the contest. 

Two Bulls scored in double figures to lead USF (18-15), freshman Sydni Harvey (Nashville, Tenn.) and Alyssa Rader (Thornton, Colo.). Harvey led with 13 points, and totaled 41 points in three games at The American tournament, creating a resume for All-Tournament hopes. Rader had 10 points and led USF with six rebounds, and the pair totaled  for USF's 23 points off the bench. 
 
UConn built up a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter and the Bulls could never recover. However, USF won the fourth quarter battle, outscoring the Huskies 17-15. UConn shot 53.3 percent in comparison to USF's 26.2 percent. In the second quarter, the Huskies shot 64.3 percent. 
 
Today's semifinal between the Bulls and Huskies was a rematch of The American's last four title games. In the teams' regular season finale last Monday, USF led 29-25 at the half, but UConn pulled ahead to win 57-47. The defeat marked the first time USF didn't reach the championship game since 2015. USF finished the 2019 championship with an all-time tournament record of 11-6—the second-best mark in American history. 
 
Quotable
 
Opening Statement from USF Head Coach Jose Fernandez 
"I thought UConn was very, very good tonight. They played at a different pace then what we did and shot the ball extremely well. I am really proud of this group and this season that we have had with all of the adversity that we have gone through. Especially, with different line-ups and the young guys that we have had to get us to this point. There has been very good things about this season. We have won 18 games, fell fifth seed and got to our sixth semi-final here. We will get back home, get some rest, and figure out if we are going to continue and keep playing this year." 
 
About going through adversity 
"I think as far of the adversity that we have faced, like coach said and all the ins and outs that everything came down to this season I think being able to come together as a team; our locker room has been great and being able to do that we enjoyed playing. None of us like losing. I do not know people that like losing. Being able to come out and play and still have fun with games has really kept us in all season," said Alyssa Rader. 
"I couldn't be any more proud of this team. We just kept on fighting and just through all that adversity; we just kept fighting for one another. There is not more you could really do," said Sydni Harvey. 
 
 
 About mental and physical strength 
"These guys went through a really tough time. We lost those four/five games with a total of eight points. A lot of other teams would have folded right then and there. We have incredible people in our program. We talk all the time; character matters. We have great culture. Our student athletes are incredible people. This is why we have had the season we had. No many teams can survive losing their best player; an all-american. Then we lose our starting wing that was averaging about 17. Then we lose Rader for two weeks and then we lose Sydni for 10/12 days. Pinzan was also out in the beginning of the year. The amount of stuff that has happened to this group. The reason why we won 18 games and came here and won two here is because of the locker room. I have a really good staff as well," said Jose Fernandez. 
About the difference between the two games 
"They shot the ball really well today. The one thing for us and for any team; if you're not making shots, the one thing you can do is to defend and rebound. I don't think we ever gave ourselves a chance for that. The ball was not going to the basket and they were moving at a different pace. We were not getting multiple efforts.The ball was just moving around very easily. When we reacted the dribble penetration either the middle or the baseline and we came over to help we weren't getting to that next pass like we usually do. It wasn't just one thing. They were the much better team today. We got beat today, by a team that shot really well and defended us very well," said Jose Fernandez.

Key Stats
17-15– USF won the fourth quarter battle, outscoring UConn 17-15 in the final period. 
85.7– USF shot 85.7 percent from the free-throw line.  
23 – USF had 29 points off the bench, including 13 from Sydni Harvey and 10 from Alyssa Rader. 

Notables

• USF advanced to the AAC semifinals for the sixth straight season.
• 2019 is the first time since 2014 the championship game will not be between UConn and USF. 
• USF is attempting to extend its title game streak this weekend. The Bulls have advanced to the championship game of the AAC tournament every year since 2015.
• Prior to the tournament, Enna Pehadzic was named to the American Athletic Conference Second Team while Sydni Harvey was a unanimous selection to The American's All-Freshman Team. Learn more HERE.
• The Bulls now own a 11-6 record in the AAC tournament since its inception in 2013-14, the second best record in the conference. 
• 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 (heart condition) since January.

Up Next
USF will wait to hear its postseason fate on Selection Monday, March 18 when the postseason tournaments are announced.  

 
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.