DATE/TIME: Wednesday, Jan. 20 / 8 p.m.
OPPONENT: Memphis
LOCATION: Elma Roane Fieldhouse, Memphis, Tenn.
TV: American Digital Network
RADIO: News Talk Florida 820-AM | GoUSFBulls.com
GAME NOTES: USF | Memphis
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TAMPA, JAN. 19, 2016 – After collecting the highest rankings in program history, the No. 15 University of South Florida women's basketball team begins a two-game road swing with a trop to Memphis on Wednesday at the Roane Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on the American Digital Network.
American Player of the Week Courtney Williams (Folkston, Ga.) collected her seventh double-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds as USF (12-4, 5-1 The American) topped East Carolina 75-54 Sunday. Senior Shalethia Stringfield (Jacksonville, Fla.) finished with a career high 22 points the Bulls eighth 20-plus point victory this season. Sophomore Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal) added 16 points, while Alisia Jenkins (Statesboro, Ga.) returned and grabbed 11 rebounds in 21 minutes of action.
The Bulls have swept all five meetings with the Tigers since both teams joined The American in 2014. The Bulls have won by an average margin of victory of 20 points, the closest match-up came last season in Memphis. The Bulls escaped with a 57-53 win. The Tigers are 9-9 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
The Bulls have now appeared in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top-25 polls every week this season, building a streak of 12 consecutive weeks in the polls dating back to last season.
Bulls Bites
· Williams received The American Player of the Week recognition for the second time this season, but has also landed on the Weekly Honor Roll four times. Williams joined Breanna Stewart (UConn) as the only athlete to receive Player of the Week honors multiple times this season.
· Senior Shalethia Stringfield (Jacksonville, Fla.) dropped a game high 22 points in the Bulls 75-54 action packed American Athletic Conference match-up. The fourth quarter belonged to Stringfield, who just four days earlier lifted the Bulls (12-4, 5-1 AAC) past Tulane with the game winning shot. The 5-6 guard scored 14 of her 22 in the final ten minutes, which also accounted for 14 of the Bulls 22 points in the fourth quarter. Stringfield played 32 minutes, shooting 66 percent (6-for-9) from the floor and collected nine points on 11 trips to the free throw line.
· Currently ranked third on USF's all-time scoring list, Williams is 105 points away from becoming the second player in school history to reach the 2,000-point milestone. Williams has proved she's not just an offensive threat, but can crash the boards with the best in the country, as the guard nearly averages a double-double this season (22.1 points, 9.1 rebounds per game) and needs only nine rebounds to reach 800 career rebounds. Williams is on pace to be the first Bull in program history to reach 2,000 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists. The senior needs 24 assists to reach 300.
· The Bulls are ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press (AP) Top-25 Poll released Monday and No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches Poll released last Tuesday. USF has been ranked as highly as No. 18 (AP Poll) and No. 16 (USA Today Coaches Poll) this season, both are the highest rankings in program history.
Around the American
· American Athletic Conference play resumes on Wednesday with five conference games. No. 1 UConn welcomes UCF to the XL Center at 7 p.m. ET (SNY/ESPN3). Cincinnati and East Carolina face off in Greenville, N.C., at 7 p.m. ET. Tulsa travels to Houston at 8 p.m. ET. No. 15/16 USF visits the Elma Roane Fieldhouse to play Memphis at 8 p.m. ET (ADN). SMU hosts Tulane at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN3).
Memphis' Scout
· The Tigers are led by senior Ariel Hearn as the only player to average double-digit points. In the Bulls 57-53 win in Memphis last season, Hearn scored a career-high 30 points.
· Memphis averages 63.4 points, and 35.1 rebounds per game. The Tigers are 7-4 at home, but have lost their last two outings to Tulsa (65-59) and UConn (86-46).
Up Next
USF heads to Orlando for an I-4 battle. The Bulls will face UCF for the second time this season, and look for their second series sweep this season. USF will play Sunday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. and the game will air on ESPNU.
The Bulls continue to climb in the polls, and have reached their highest rankings in program history. USF has been ranked as highly as No. 18 in the Associated Press poll and No. 16 in the USA Today Coaches Poll this season; both are the highest rankings in program history. USF has appeared in both polls every week and placed as highly as No. 11 on some ballots.
USF has made 11 postseason tournament appearances and had three NCAA Tournament berths in Head Coach Jose Fernandez's 15 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to six 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 260 games.
– #GoBulls –
