GAME 31 | WED., MARCH, 1, 2023 | 7 P.M. | CINCINNATI, OHIO | FIFTH THIRD ARENA
Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Online: ESPN+ ($)
Anthony Mazzini (PxP), AB Stocks (Color)
Audio: Bulls Unlimited (TuneIn App/GoUSFBulls.com)
Darek Sharp (PxP)
Live Stats: GoUSFBulls.com
Series: South Florida leads the series, 23-17
Twitter Updates: @USFWBB
Tickets: GoBearcats.com
NO. 25/22 USF BULLS | 25-5 (14-1, AAC)
Last Game: Feb. 22 vs. Tulsa, W, 93-83
Next Game: March 7 at AAC Tournament Quarterfinals, 1 p.m.
Head Coach: Jose Fernandez
Alma Mater: FIU, 1994
Career Record: 441-290 (23rd season)
at South Florida: Same
CINCINNATI BEARCATS | 9-19 (2-13, AAC)
Last Game: Feb. 25 at Central Florida, L, 64-54 (ot)
Next Game: March 6 at AAC Tournament First Round, TBA
Head Coach: Michelle Clark-Heard
Alma Mater: Western Kentucky, 1990
Career Record: 33-23 (Second season)
at Cincinnati: 74-73 (Fifth Season)
TAMPA (February 28, 2023) – The University of South Florida women's basketball team closes out its 2022-23 regular-season schedule on Wednesday night when it travels to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen live on ESPN+.
South Florida, the American Athletic Conference regular season champions, jumped back into the Associated Press top 25 poll on Monday at No. 25 and is ranked No. 22 in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches poll. The Bulls come into Wednesday's game against Cincinnati 25-5 overall and 14-1 in The American and look for their 26th win of the year which will equal the second most in program history joining the 2017-18 team. In addition, South Florida aims for its 15th conference win of the year which will equal the most in program history joining the 2014-15 team.
Elena Tsineke is second in The American, averaging 17.6 points per game on the year, and leads three players on the Bulls' roster in double figures.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu is second on the team in scoring – and third in the conference – averaging 17.0 points per game and is also grabbing 12.6 rebounds per outing. Her rebounding average is tops in the conference and third in the nation. Fankam Mendjiadeu is coming off an impressive 25-point, 13-rebound night against the Golden Hurricane.
Sammie Puisis, who fell just one point shy of equaling her career-high when she scored 27 points against Tulsa, rounds out the double-digit scorers by netting 16.1 points per contest.
Carla Brito is within striking distance of double-figures averaging 8.8 points per game.
Fankam Mendjiadeu, who has grabbed 379 rebounds this season, comes into the game with the Bearcats just 19 rebounds shy of surpassing former Bull Alisia Jenkins (397) for sole possession of first on South Florida's single-season rebounding list. Fankam Mendjiadeu is also just 33 rebounds from becoming the all-time single-season rebounding leader in the American Athletic Conference, a spot currently held by former UConn Huskie Napheesa Collier (411).
Cincinnati comes into its game against the Bulls with a 9-19 record and a 2-13 mark in The American following its 64-54 overtime loss at Central Florida on Feb. 25. The Bearcats have dropped four straight and 14 of their last 16 after starting the season 7-5.
Jillian Hayes is one of two players averaging in double-figures on the season for Cincinnati, netting 12.8 points per game, and is followed by Mya Jackson and her 11.4 points per outing. Hayes is also leading the Bearcats on the glass, grabbing 8.7 rebounds per contest.
Following the meeting with Cincinnati, the Bulls will get ready for the American Athletic Conference Tournament, March 6-9, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. South Florida will begin its quest of winning its second conference tournament title in the past three seasons on March 7 at 1 p.m. ET against the winner of the first-round game between the eight and nine seeds. That game will be played on March 6 at 2 p.m. ET (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 –
