Game Details
Ole Miss 61, No. 18 South Florida 53
USF (9-4), Ole Miss (12-1)
Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 | 1:15 p.m. | FloHoops
West Palm Beach, Fla. | Massimino Court at the Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center
 
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) (Dec. 21, 2021) — Madison Scott scored 12 points, Angel Baker had 11, and Mississippi's defense took over in the third quarter to propel the Rebels to a 61-53 win over No. 18 South Florida at the West Palm Beach Invitational on Tuesday.

It was the first game against a ranked team this season for the Rebels (12-1). It was their first win over a ranked team outside the SEC since 2007.

The Bulls (8-4) were playing their seventh game against a ranked or Power Five team and fell to 4-3. Sydni Harvey scored 17 points, hitting 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and Elena Tsineke added 10. 

Bethy Mununga and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu each grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.

USF scored two baskets in the final minute of the first half to lead 30-26 at halftime.

Ole Miss was 4 of 6 to start the third quarter as USF missed its first two shots and had two turnovers before Tsineke tied the game at 34 at the 6:06 mark.

Then the Bulls went cold, missing 12 straight shots before a 3-pointer by Harvey ended a 13-1 run with 4:11 left in the game.

The Rebels, who led 47-38 at that point, went 9 of 14 from the foul line in the final two minutes. USF hit three shots, two of them 3-pointers, but two turnovers kept the Bulls from getting close.

USF was 1 of 10 in the third quarter and shot 27% in the second half while the Rebels shot 55% after the break.

Story courtesy of Associated Press. USF athletics communications contributed to this recap.

Notable

• Monday's starters for the Bulls were: G Elisa Pinzan, G Sydni Harvey, W Elena Tsineke, F Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, and F Bethy Mununga … The Bulls are 3-1 with this lineup.
• South Florida and Ole Miss met for just the second time on Tuesday, with the Rebels evening the series up at 1-1.

Up Next
After the holiday break, South Florida will close out its 2021-22 nonconference slate on Dec. 29 at the Yuengling Center against Jacksonville. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.
 
About USF Women's Basketball
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USF recorded its best season in program history during the 2020-21 campaign, all while navigating the unpredictable COVID-19 landscape. In doing so, the Bulls won their first-ever American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and posted their highest ranking in the Associated Press Top25 poll – reaching as high as No. 12 – and made their ninth straight postseason appearance, and sixth NCAA appearance in the last 10 years.
 
USF has made 16 postseason tournament appearances and had seven NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 21 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 nearly 400 career games. For his efforts on the sideline during the 2020-21 season, Fernandez was named a finalist for the WBCA and semifinalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Awards. He was also tabbed the 2021 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
 
The Bulls posted a 19-4 record and had five players, during the 2020-21 campaign, the Bulls had five players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elisa Pinzan (Most Improved Player, All-Conference Second Team), Maria Alvarez (Co-Sixth Player of the Year), Bethy Mununga (All-Conference First Team), Elena Tsineke (All-Conference First Team), and Sydni Harvey (All-Conference Third Team).
 
In addition, Harvey was named the American Athletic Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player and to the All-Tournament Team, while Mununga and Tsineke were also All-Tournament selections.