Game Details
-/RV (2) South Florida 63, (7) Memphis 53
USF (23-7), Memphis (16-12)
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+
American Athletic Conference Quarterfinals
Fort Worth, Texas | Dickies Arena
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FORT WORTH, Texas (March 8, 2022) — Elena Tsineke led four South Florida players in double figures with a game-high 22 points as the second-seeded Bulls defeated seventh-seeded Memphis, 63-53, in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Air Force Reserved American Athletic Conference Tournament at Dickies Arena Tuesday night.
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South Florida improves to 23-7 on the year and Memphis falls to 16-12.
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The win also keeps the Bulls' streak alive of advancing to the AAC Tournament semifinals. In their nine years as a member of The American, South Florida has never been eliminated from the tournament before the semifinals.
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In addition to Tsineke,
Elisa Pinzan poured in 16 points while
Sydni Harvey and
Bethy Mununga added 10 points apiece. Mununga also added a game-high 13 rebounds for her 33
rd career double-double and 13
th of the season.
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The Bulls and Tigers were deadlocked at 27-27 at halftime and 45-all at the end of the third quarter before the South Florida outscored Memphis 18-8 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
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With the game tied at 45 to start the fourth quarter, Tsineke made a layup to give the Bulls the lead. The two teams' defenses stepped up with neither team scoring again until it was Tsineke with another layup with 4:49 remaining. South Florida never trailed in the final 10 minutes of play.
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Tsineke scored 18 of her 22 points in the second half, with 10 of the 18 coming in the final quarter. Tsineke was six-for-six from the free-throw line in the final 68 seconds of the game to clinch it for the Bulls. Â
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Notable
- Tuesday'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 12-3 with this lineup.
- South Florida improves to 24-36 all-time in conference tournament play and 16-7 in the American Athletic Conference Tournament … The Bulls have won four-straight AAC Tournament games dating back to last year's title run.
- The Bulls' win over Memphis improves its record against the Tigers to 14-15 all-time … South Florida also improves to 2-0 against Memphis in AAC tournament games, having defeated the Tigers, 79-51, in the 2015 tour ament quarterfinals.
- Elena Tsineke's 22 points against the Tigers mark her 56th career double-figure scoring game in her 77th career game with the Bulls.
- Bethy Mununga recorded her 54th career double-figure rebounding game with her 13 rebounds against Memphis … In addition, her 10 points along with her 13 rebounds marks her 33rd career double-double with the Bulls and her 13th of the season.
Up Next
South Florida will now face (6) Houston in the semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing to the American Athletic Conference championship game on Thursday at 9 p.m.ET. Â
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About USF Women's Basketball
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF women's basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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– #GoBulls –