South Florida Celebrates Seniors & 50 Years of Women’s Hoops
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GAME 29 | WED., MARCH 2 | 7 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPN+ ($)
Jim Louk (PxP), Leah Secondo (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (iHeartRadio/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Color)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com/StatBroadcast
Series: South Florida leads series, 18-8
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
-/RV USF BULLS | 21-7, 11-3 AAC
Last Game: Feb. 27 at East Carolina, W, 68-60
Next Game: March 7-10 at AAC Tournament, TBA
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 413-283 (22nd season)
at USF: Same
HOUSTON COUGARS | 14-13, 7-8 AAC
Last Game: Feb. 26 vs. SMU, W, 65-36
Next Game: March 7-10 at AAC Tournament, TBA
Head Coach: Ronald Hughey
Alma Mater: Limestone College, 2006
Career Record: 102-135 (Eighth season)
at Houston: Same
By Joey Johnston
For the USF women's basketball program, Wednesday night is about nostalgia, celebration, fond farewells and, ultimately the pursuit of victory to punctuate another successful regular season.
When the Bulls (21-7, 11-3 American Athletic Conference) face the Houston Cougars (14-13, 7-8) at the Yuengling Center, it's a special celebration to mark the program's 50th anniversary season.
T-shirts and commemorative coins will go to the first 500 fans. USF players will wear throwback uniforms, mirroring the garb and logo from the program's 1970s origins.
It's also Senior Night, always an emotional occasion. Cornerstone performers
Bethy Mununga and
Shae Leverett will be honored, along with backcourt stars
Sydni Harvey and
Elisa Pinzan.
The Bulls, who have righted the ship after home defeats against Tulane and UCF, are going for their fifth consecutive victory, which would be a season-best mark.
"We could be playing a lot better,'' USF coach
Jose Fernandez said. "I'd like us to be playing with more flow offensively and be playing with more confidence. It's nice when the ball goes through the hole, but I think we're defending well and rebounding well.''
Fernandez said he would welcome an efficient performance, particularly with a higher shooting percentage, to give the Bulls some momentum as they seek to defend the program's AAC Tournament championship next week at Fort Worth, Texas.
USF has reached the 20-victory plateau for the 10th time on Fernandez's 22-season watch. With 21 wins, including valuable non-conference victories against Stanford and Oregon, the Bulls are expected to be safely into the NCAA Tournament's 68-team field.
The postseason has become a tradition for USF women's basketball. Wednesday night, the Bulls will honor the program's heritage dating back to the program's origin in the 1972-73 season.
And those throwback uniforms?
"I picked them out,'' Fernandez said with a smile. "It's a nice touch with the old logo. I think people will like them. They're pretty cool.''
As for the celebration of USF's 50th season, Fernandez said it's appropriate to salute the past.
"It's a great opportunity to remember all the coaches, players and teams,'' Fernandez said. "There have been a lot of really good basketball players to come through this program.
"There wasn't a lot of history here before, but the past had a lot of good coaches who invested their time and a lot of good players who chose to come here to USF. Even without a lot of team success, there was individual excellence. When you have 50 seasons, that means a lot of people have been a part of it, so this is a celebration and remembrance for everyone.''
