GAME 27 | SUN., FEB. 12, 2023 | 2 P.M. | TAMPA, FLA. | YUENGLING CENTER
Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats | Tickets
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPN2/ESPN+ ($)
Eric Frede (PxP), Christy Thomaskutty (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (TuneIn App/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP), Brigid Merenda (Color)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: South Florida leads the series, 21-8
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: (800) Go-Bulls; USFBullsTix.com
NO. 24/21 USF BULLS | 22-4 (11-0, AAC)
Last Game: Feb. 4 at SMU, W, 65-63
Next Game: Feb. 15 at Central Florida, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 438-289 (23rd season)
at South Florida: Same
HOUSTON COUGARS | 9-13 (6-3, AAC)
Last Game: Feb. 4 vs. Temple, W, 65-60
Next Game: Feb. 15 vs. Memphis, 8 p.m.
Head Coach: Ronald Hughey
Alma Mater: Limestone College, 2006
Career Record: 115-151 (Ninth season)
at Houston: Same
TAMPA (February 11, 2023) – The No. 24/21-ranked University of South Florida women's basketball team returns to its home floor on Sunday for a critical American Athletic Conference showdown with Houston. Game time at the Yuengling Center is slated for 2 p.m. and the nationally televised game can be seen live on ESPN2. A win over the Cougars will give the Bulls at least a share of The American regular season championship.
South Florida comes into Sunday's game 22-4 overall and 11-0 in the American Athletic Conference, good enough for first place in the standings. The Green and Gold are looking for their 13
th-straight win and their 12
th consecutive win in league play. A 12-0 start in The American would be the best conference start in program history, surpassing the previous mark of 11-0 set during the 2020-21 season.
In addition, the Bulls are looking for their 16
th-straight win at home, dating back to last season, and their 13
th-consecutive at home this season. South Florida's current 12-game winning streak is tied for sixth in the nation through games of Feb. 9 and its 15-game home winning streak is seventh 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.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu is not that far out of first dropping in 16.7 points per game and 12.4 rebounds per outing. Her rebounding average is tops in the conference and third in the nation.
Sammie Puisis rounds out the double-digit scorers netting 16.0 points per contest following her first career double-double on Feb. 4 in South Florida's 65-63 win at SMU. Puisis scored 14 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds in the win. Puisis leads the nation in three-point field goals made (85) and attempted (218).
Houston comes into its game against the Bulls with a 9-13 record and a 6-3 mark in The American following its 65-60 win over Temple on Feb. 4. The Cougars have won their last three games after dropping three straight, and have also won seven of the last 11 contests.
Laila Blair is one of two players averaging double-figures on the season, netting 14.8 points per game, and is followed by Tiara Young who is averaging 12.5 points per contest. Two players, however, are just shy of double-digits per game; Bria Patterson (9.4) and Tatyana Hill (8.7).
Hill is also leading the Cougars on the glass, grabbing 7.6 rebounds per contest.
The Houston game will start a three-game in a five-game stretch for South Florida that will be played at home to end the regular season. Following Sunday's game, the Bulls head across Interstate-4 to face Central Florida for the final regular season edition of the War on I-4 on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. (ESPN+).
The stretch also includes games against SMU (Feb. 18, 5 p.m. ESPN+), Tulsa (Feb. 22, 7 p.m. ESPN+), and at Cincinnati (March 1, 7 p.m. ESPN+).
Catch The Bulls on Bulls Unlimited & ESPN+
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 10th 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.
– #GoBulls –
