Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – Nov. 28, 2024 – South Florida women's basketball (4-4) fell in a slim battle to Mississippi St. (8-0), 59-52, in the Cayman Islands Classic on Friday night.
 
Graduate guard Sammie Puisis led all scorers with 22 points, which marked her second 20-plus-point performance of the season and fourth straight double-figure game. Senior forward L'or Mputu matched a career-best 12 rebounds (second double-figure rebound game this season). Junior forward Carla Brito (10 rebounds) logged her third straight game with double-digit rebounds. Graduate guard Mama Dembele dished out seven assists and is five away from surpassing the 500 career assists milestone.
 
Graduate guard Jerkaila Jordan led the Bulldogs with a 20-point night.
 
HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED
The game featured nine ties and four lead changes and throughout the matchup, with both squads never led by more than seven points.
 
In the third quarter, Mississippi St. executed an 8-0 run, its biggest scoring stretch of the night and the Bulls trailed by two points, 39-37, with 2:54 to play. Graduate forward Ines Piper made a layup and the contest was tied for the ninth time, 39-39. The Bulldogs outscored the Bulls, 16-13 in the final frame in USF's loss.
 
NOTABLE NUMBERS

• Dembele (six assists) has recorded 3+ assists in 36 straight games, the second-longest active streak in DI, behind Drake's Katie Dinnebier (49+ games).
• Mississippi St. now leads the all-time series against South Florida, 3-2.
• For the second time this season, two Bulls finished with double-figure rebounds (Mputu, 12 & Brito 10).
• Sammie Puisis led all scorers with 22 points, which marked her second 20-plus-point performance of the season and fourth straight double-figure game.
• Mputu matched a career-best 12 rebounds (second double-figure rebound game this season).
• Brito (10 rebounds) logged her third straight game with double-digit rebounds.
• Dembele dished out seven assists and is five away from surpassing the 500 career assists milestone.

 
UP NEXT
South Florida faces No. 17/21 TCU tomorrow, Nov. 30, in its final game in the Cayman Islands Classic. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. and the action will stream live on FloHoops.
 
TICKETS
Fans can purchase women's basketball tickets by calling 1-800-GoBulls or at USFBullsTix.com.
 
ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
South Florida women's basketball has made 18 postseason tournament appearances and had nine NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 25 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided the Bulls to 11 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2008-09 WNIT championship, has won over 450 career games, and is the all-time wins leader in the American Athletic Conference.
 
For complete coverage of USF women's basketball, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
 
– #GoBulls –