USF Athletics

Bulls Open Conference Play Sunday

December 30, 2017

Matchup: No. 24 USF (10-3, 0-0 The American) vs. Tulane (8-5, 0-0 The American)
Date: Sunday, Dec. 31
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Sun Dome Arena
Watch: ESPNU |
Radio: AM 1040 | Bulls Unlimited (Darek Sharp & Brigid Merenda)
Follow: Listen | Live Stats |  Twitter
 
TAMPA, DEC. 30, 2017 – The USF women's basketball team returns to action Sunday when it kicks off American Athletic Conference action against Tulane. The Bulls host the Green Wave at noon at the Sun Dome for just their second home game in the month of December. The New Year's Eve match-up will be broadcasted on ESPNU.
 
The Bulls (10-3) look to pick up a win in their conference opener for the fourth-straight season. Since the inception of the American Athletic Conference, USF has a 3-1 record in league openers. The Bulls return to the Sun Dome for the first time since Dec. 15, when they clobbered Southern University, 108-48. Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) turned in her first 40-point performance and an NCAA record 11-consecutive three-pointers.
 
Laksa's 4.38 three-point field goals per game is the nation's best mark and her 57 three-pointers this season is second in the country. The junior continues to lead the Bulls with 22.8 points per game which ranks sixth in Division I. The Bulls have five players averaging double-figure points. Maria Jespersen (Arhus, Denmark) is averaging 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while Laura Ferreira (Lisboa, Portugal) averages 12.5 points game. At the New Orleans Shootout, Ferreria averaged 20 points per game and recorded a double-double against Dayton.
 
PROMOTIONS
Free USF Blankets
The first 250 fans at Sunday's matinee will receive Go Bulls blankets at Gate A.
 
Family Day
All home games that fall on Sunday for the 2017-18 season will be Family Day. The team will be available for post-game autographs and meet and greets.
 
Coke Student Club
The Coke Student Club will be open prior to tip-off with free breakfast pastries and orange juice.
 
THE OPPONENTS
Tulane is riding a three-game win streak into its American Athletic Conference opener. The Green Wave are led by senior Kolby Morgan with 21.8 points per game. Morgan is the nation's sixth-leading active scorer with 1,900 points in her career.
 
The Bulls and Green Wave will meet for the 36^th time in program history. The series dates back to 1992 and Tulane holds a 19-16 series advantage. Since the inception of The American, the Bulls have won all eight meetings. The pair last met in Tampa on Feb. 12 and the Bulls ran away with a 66-56 victory.
 
NOTABLES

• USF is 3-1 in American Athletic Conference openers and 1-1 when opening the conference season at home. The Bulls lone loss was in the first season of the league against Rutgers (66-53, Dec. 28, 2013).  
• In 50 games since 2014, USF has compiled a 43-8 record at home, including a 21-5 record in The American.
• The Bulls have not lost a game at the Sun Dome since Feb. 27, 2017.
• Laia Flores leads the league in three different categories: assist-turnover ratio (4.25), assists (85) and assists per game (6.5). She ranks in the top 13 nationally in all three categories.
• USF is currently ranked No. 25 in the AP and No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Bulls started the season ranked No. 23/22 and peaked at No. 16 (AP – week 4) and No. 16 (Coaches – weeks 3-4 ). USF has been ranked in both polls every week. The program's highest ranking in both polls was in 2016, when the Bulls were ranked No. 15 (AP – Jan. 18 | Coaches – Jan. 19).
• Former USF All-American Courtney Williams ('16) is among 13 Olympic and/or FIBA World Cup gold medalists, on a roster of 29 athletes today that were named to the 2017-20 USA Basketball Women's National Team pool.

 
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF women's basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
 
USF notched its fifth consecutive 20-win season. The Bulls tallied its 20th win in their 24th contest of the season which tied the fastest any program has reached 20 wins. This is the eighth 20-win season in program history and head coach Jose Fernandez has been at the helm for all eight 20-win seasons. The 2014-15 team reached 20 wins in 24 games, and still currently holds the best record for most wins in a season (27).
 
USF has made 13 postseason tournament appearances and had five NCAA Tournament berths in Head Coach Jose Fernandez's 17 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to eight 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 300 games.
– #GoBulls –