Tampa, Fla. Dec. 10, 2023 – Freshman guard
Vittoria Blasigh put up a career-high 31 points in South Florida women's Basketball's (7-3) 105-75 victory against Gardner-Webb (0-9) on Sunday in Tampa, Fla. The triumph marked head coach
Jose Fernandez's 450 career win and the program's 18 100-plus victory in program history.
Senior guard
Sammie Puisis started for the first time this season and contributed 21 points, a team-high two steals, a pair of rebounds, and a single assist. Sophomore guard
Marina Asensio added a personal-best 16 points by shooting 5-of-6 from field goal range, with four 3-pointers. Asensio also matched a career-high seven assists on the day.
COACH FERNANDEZ SAID
HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
South Florida opened the game on a 20-4 run through the first six minutes of the first frame, holding Gardner-Webb to just two field goals during the stretch. Puisis,
Evelien Lutje Schipholt,
Aerial Wilson, and
Carla Brito each put up four points apiece in the run to open the contest. The Bulls never gave up the lead while shooting 40-of-73 from field-goal range, and saw the advantage raise up to 31 points later on in the third quarter.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- Head Coach Jose Fernandez reached the 450-career win mark.
- USF has now won 20 straight nonconference home games and holds a record of 58-3 since the 2014-15 season.
- South Florida has won six straight home nonconfernce clashes this season.
- Blasigh's 31-point day marked the first 30-plus point performance since Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu scored 34 against Ohio State (Dec. 20, 2022).
- Blasigh has collected double-digit points for the seventh time this season.
- Puisis returned to the Bulls starting five for the first time this season and logged the 12th 20-plus point game of her career and has scored in double-figures 43 times.
- The Bulls 105 points marked the 18th 100-point game in program history, the first since the 2018-19 season against Vermont (102-55).
- USF's 105 points is also tied for the 9th most points in a single game. The most since 108 vs. Southern (Dec. 15, 2017) when South Florida scored 108 points.
- USF and GWU both collared 12 3-pointers in the contest.
UP NEXT
South Florida hosts a ranked NC State squad on Saturday, Dec. 16 for its Holiday Celebration Game. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. and the game will stream live on ESPN+. Bulls fans are encouraged to spread holiday cheer by participating in the postgame Teddy Bear Toss. All Teddy Bears donated will be collected and distributed to local hospitals in the Tampa Bay area.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase women's basketball tickets by calling 1-800-GoBulls or at
USFBullsTix.com.
ABOUT USF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
For complete coverage of USF women's basketball, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
South Florida women's basketball recorded its 11th 20-win season during the 2022-23 campaign. USF has made 18 postseason tournament appearances and had nine NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 23 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 11 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, has won over 400 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference.
In 2022-23, the Bulls had four players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (AAC Co-Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team), Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (AAC Co-Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team), Sammie Puisis (AAC Newcomer of the Year, All-Conference Second Team) and Carla Brito (AAC All-Freshman Team).
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