GAME 22 | SUN., JAN. 22, 2023 | 2 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats | Tickets | Game Notes
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPNU                                          
Brenda VanLengen (PxP), Holly Warlick (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (TuneIn App/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Color)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: South Florida leads series, 30-17
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
 
RV/RV USF BULLS | 17-4 (6-0, AAC)
Last Game: Jan. 18 at Houston, W, 58-56
Next Game: Jan. 25 at Tulsa, 5 p.m. ET
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 433-289 (23rd season)
at South Florida: Same
AP/USAT/Net/SOS (Through Jan. 20): RV/RV/36/12
 
CENTRAL FLORIDA KNIGHTS | 10-7 (1-4, AAC)
Last Game: Jan. 17 vs. Tulane, L, 64-50
Next Game: Jan. 28 at Temple, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Sytia Messer
Alma Mater: Limestone College, 2006
Career Record: 64-48 (Fourth season)
at Central Florida: 10-7 (First season)
AP/USAT/Net/SOS (Through Jan. 20: -/-/154/237
 
TAMPA (January 21, 2023) – The University of South Florida women's basketball team returns to the Yuengling Center on Sunday for its lone home game during a three-game stretch as it faces rival Central Florida in this season's first edition of the War on I-4. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. and the game will air on ESPNU. The Bulls and Knights will face each other again, in Orlando, on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. (ESPN+).
 
The Bulls come into Saturday's game 17-4 overall and 6-0 in the American Athletic Conference and look for their eighth straight win and their 11^th victory in their last 13 games. In addition, South Florida looks to improve to 11-0 at home this season and extend its home winning streak – back to last season – to 14 games. The Bulls' current 13-game winning stretch at home is tied for the seventh longest in the nation.
 
Elena Tsineke is averaging a conference-best 17.0 points per game on the year and leads three players on the Bulls' roster in double figures after posting her first career double-double at Houston on Wednesday, a 13-point, career-high 10-rebound effort. Sammie Puisis joins Tsineke, netting 16.3 points and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu rounds out the Bulls' double-figure scorers averaging 16.2 points per game. Carla Brito falls just shy averaging 8.6 points per contest.
 
Aerial Wilson is second in the conference in assists (92) and assists per game (4.4).
 
Central Florida comes into its game against the Bulls with a 10-7 record and a 1-4 mark in The American following its 64-50 loss to Tulane on Jan. 17. The Knights came into its meeting with the Green Wave on the heels of their first conference win of the season, a 59-56 win over Wichita State on Jan. 15.
 
Destiny Thomas is one of three players averaging double-figures on the season for the Knights, netting 11.7 points per game. She is followed by Laila Jewett and Anzhané Hutton who are averaging 10.1 and 10.0 points per contest, respectively.
 
Thomas is also leading the Knights on the glass, grabbing 10.6 rebounds per contest.
 
Following its game against Central Florida, the Bulls will head back out on the road for back-to-back games at Tulsa on Jan. 25 (5 p.m. ET, ESPNU) and at Memphis on Jan. 28 (3 p.m. ET, ESPN+).   
 
Catch The Bulls on ESPN+ & Bulls Unlimited
The majority of USF's regular-season games will be streamed live on the ESPN+ platform. The American Athletic Conference and ESPN began a new 12-year television rights agreement which started in 2020-21. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app is $9.99 monthly or $99.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
 
In addition, all games this season will be broadcast live on USF Bulls Unlimited, with Darek Sharp (home and away) and Brigid Merenda (for home games only) on the call. Bulls Unlimited is available via the free Tune In app (search "Bulls Unlimited'') and provides static-free quality whether you're listening on your streaming device, laptop or desktop.
 
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).
 
South Florida recorded its 10^th 20-win season during the 2021-22 campaign while playing in its sixth American Athletic Conference championship game in its nine years in the conference. The Bulls achieved their highest national ranking of the season when it checked in at No. 13 in the Nov. 30 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and advanced to their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine years.
 
USF has made 17 postseason tournament appearances and had eight NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 22 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 10 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, and has won over 400 career games. 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 at the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign.
 
In 2021-22, the Bulls had three players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (All-Conference First Team), Bethy Mununga (All-Conference Second Team) and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (All-Conference Second Team).
 
In addition, Tsineke and Mununga were named to the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team.