TAMPA, July 26th, 2023 – University of South Florida women's basketball head coach
Jose Fernandez has announced the program's non-conference schedule, for the upcoming 2023-24 season, which includes a slew of top-tier opponents. The non-conference slate is highlighted by a home matchup against NC State, a road tilt at Alabama, and a neutral site game versus Texas.
The ledger of USF's non-conference foes includes five programs that participated in the 2023 postseason, four of those squads took part in the NCAA Tournament.
Opponents that took part in the 2023 NCAA Tournament: Alabama, Texas, Gardner-Webb, and NC State.
Opponents that took part in the 2023 WNIT: High Point
The Bulls will kick off their season with four of the first five matchups at home versus UT Arlington (Monday, Nov. 6), Stetson (Friday, Nov. 10), Grambling State (Monday, Nov. 13), and North Florida (Sunday, Nov. 19).
USF's first road swing features a trip to Tuscaloosa, where the Bulls with square off with Alabama (Thursday, Nov. 16). The Crimson Tide went 20-11 (9-7 SEC) last season and lost 78-74 to Baylor in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, South Florida will head to the U.S. Virgin Islands to take part in its fourth Paradise Jam appearance. Playing in the Reef Tournament, USF will play High Point (Thursday, Nov. 23), Arizona State (Friday, Nov. 24), and Texas (Saturday, Nov. 25).
HPU concluded the 2022-23 campaign with a record of 17-15 and a 13-5 mark in the Big South. High Point capped off its season with a 66-46 loss to Clemson in the first round of the WNIT. Texas locked in an overall record of 26-10 (14-4 Big 12) and beat East Carolina, 79-40, before falling to Louisville (73-51) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Following the Paradise Jam, USF is set to host a trio of home matches. After welcoming a pair of Big South opponents, Charleston Southern (Thursday, Nov. 30) and Gardner-Webb (Sunday, Dec. 10), the Bulls close the home non-conference slate against ACC foe NC State (Saturday, Dec. 16).
GWU finished last season with a record of 29-5 and was undefeated in conference play (18-0 Big South). Winners of 21 straight, the Runnin' Bulldogs streak came to a close in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, a 103-77 loss to No. 2 seeded Utah.
The Wolfpack concluded the previous year with a record of 20-12 (9-9 ACC). NC State's campaign concluded with a one-point (64-63) loss to Princeton in the first round of the Big Dance.
The American conference scheduling model features 18 contests, an expansion from the previous 16-game slate. Each conference member will play five of its 13 opponents twice, while facing eight opponents a single time, split between four home and four road matchups.
2023-24 Conference Home & Away Opponents: East Carolina, Rice, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa
2023-24 Conference Home Only: Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, and Wichita State
2023-24 Conference Away Only: UAB, Memphis, Temple, and UTSA
USF's notable returners include
Sammie Puisis (Senior, Guard),
Carla Brito (Sophomore, Forward), and
Aerial Wilson (R-Senior, Guard).
This past season, South Florida posted a 27-7 overall record and held a 15-1 mark in conference action. The 2022-23 campaign was concluded on a high note, as the program made its ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, marking its eighth trip to the Big Dance in the last 11 years. USF has advanced to the postseason 18 times in the club's history.
Included in their 27 wins were ranked victories against No. 22/18 Texas, 70-65, a gritty 66-65 overtime win versus No. 17/19 Arkansas in the San Diego Invitational, and a 67-65, comeback overtime triumph against ninth-seeded Marquette in the first round of March Madness.
TICKETS
South Florida women's basketball tickets are available online (USFBullsTix.com) and by phone (1-800-GoBulls).
ABOUT USF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
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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).
– #GoBulls –
