USF Athletics

South Florida Duo Face-Off Against Familiar Foes in AAC Quarterfinals

March 08, 2022

By Joey Johnston
 
For USF women's basketball players Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu and Aerial Wilson, tonight's American Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal is ironic, awkward and exciting — all at the same time.
 
When the No. 2-seeded Bulls (22-7) challenge the No. 7 Memphis Tigers (17-11) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Dulcy and Aerial will be facing their old team.
 
"I'll be looking forward to it,'' Dulcy said. "Old teammates and good friends, but we will be playing hard against each other.''
 
"These are girls we guarded every day I practice,'' Aerial said. "It's something Dulcy and I have talked about a lot. It's going to be fun.''
 
Dulcy and Aerial played the past two seasons with Memphis, then entered the transfer portal and arrived at USF, an AAC rival that had their full respect.
 
Dulcy, a 6-foot-4 forward, was a second-team All-AAC selection last season, when she averaged a double-double (14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds) for the Tigers. Aerial, a 5-10 guard, started 49 of 50 games for the Tigers, twice registering 10-assist games.
 
"Great students, good kids and we are fortunate to have both in our program,'' Bulls coach Jose Fernandez said. "The head coach and former staff that recruited both of them to Memphis, they were no longer there. So, they were going to have a new start, whether there or here. I'm glad it's here.
 
"We thought Dulcy was one of the best post players in our conference and in the country. Aerial is a wonderful young lady with a positive attitude. She's a hard worker and a good teammate. Both kids fit into everything we do here academically and athletically. They're a perfect fit for our locker room, so it has really worked well.''
 
Dulcy averaged 11.2 points and 7.6 rebounds — with seven double-doubles — during the regular season. Aerial has played in 21 games, starting two, while averaging 0.9 points per game and collecting 13 total assists.
 
Memphis was supposed to be the first AAC opponent for USF this season — Jan. 2 at the Yuengling Center — but the game was canceled due to COVID-19. Now there's another opportunity.
 
"Facing their old team, same conference, going against the guys they used to play against every day in practice … I can understand why Memphis would be an interesting opponent for them,'' Fernandez said. "But I also know it's a game they really want to win.''