|
1 |
2 |
F |
|
N0. 3/4 California |
42 |
43 |
85 |
|
USF |
24 |
31 |
55 |
| Stat Comparison |
USF |
California |
| Points |
55 |
85 |
| FG Made-Attempted |
20-70 |
29-65 |
| FG Percentage |
28.6% |
44.6% |
| 3 FG Made-Attempted |
4-19 |
8-19 |
| 3 FG Percentage |
21.1% |
42.1% |
| FT Made-Attempted |
12-12 |
12-20 |
| FT Percentage |
57.9% |
67.9% |
| Rebounds |
54 |
42 |
| Turnovers |
12 |
13 |
|
USF Stat Leaders |
|
California Stat Leaders |
|
Sepulveda |
10 |
Points |
Vital |
22 |
|
Grant |
9 |
Rebounds |
Grief |
11 |
|
Wynne |
3 |
Assists |
Gray-Lawson |
6 |
|
Sepulveda |
2 |
Steals |
3 players |
1 |
|
Denson |
6 |
Blocks |
3 players |
1 |
| |
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands - When the University of South Florida women's basketball team came down to St. Thomas for the Paradise Jam, knowing the competition that it was going to be facing would be considerably tougher that in it's first four games, it knew that it was going to have to step its game up more than a notch. After all, the Bulls' first round foe in the three-day event, No. 3/4 California, would most certainly be one of the stiffest tests of the season for USF and one that would be pretty good measuring stick for life in the BIG EAST this year. Prior to Cal's trip to the Caribbean, it had defeated then No. 2/2 Rutgers 66-52.
Well, the Bulls, who had been averaging 98.5 points per game and giving up just 46.2 points per contest in their first four games, found out just how good the Golden Bears were as they handed USF its first loss of the season with an 85-55 setback at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports & Fitness Center.
Jazmine Sepulveda led the Bulls with 11 points while Shantia Grace added 10 points in the loss. Porche Grant grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
USF came out of the gate ready to play taking a 12-11 lead on the second of two made free throws by Grace with 13:44 left in the first half.
Cal, however, would buckle down and didn't seem to be bothered by its cross-country trip to St. Thomas. Following the three-pointer by Kelsey Adrian with 13:22 left in the first stanza, the Golden Bears would use a 17-3 run through the 3:44 mark to take a 31-15 lead and blow the game open. During that run, California would hold the Bulls scoreless until Porche Grant ended the drought with a 10-foot jumper.
The Golden Bears would extend their lead to as many as 22 points, 41-19, handing USF it's biggest deficit of the season to that point, and took a 42-24 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
The Bulls played Cal tough in the second half, however could not overcome 27.5 percent (11-40) shooting from the field in the second stanza en route to the win.
Natasha Vital scored a game-high 22 points while Lauren Grief added 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win.
USF will be back in action tomorrow when it faces Big Ten foe Iowa at 6 p.m. (EST)/7 p.m. (AST). The game can be heard live in 1010 AM CBS Sports Radio with Garrett Walvoord calling all the action. Fans can also access the game via the internet by logging onto GoUSFBulls.com and selecting the BullVision Premium option. In addition, fans can also watch all the games of the Paradise Jam by logging on to watchbihoops.com and purchasing a subscription.
(Photo of Porche Grant taken by Sean McCoy and used with permission from the Virgin Islands Daily News)
