Scouting Florida
Florida is 3-0 under first-year head coach Tammi Reiss, who led Rhode Island to the Atlantic 10 title last season. The Gators beat Bucknell 83-60 and UCF 95-65 at home before winning 64-58 at Chattanooga on Sunday. Florida went 18-15 last season.
The Gators have an almost entirely new roster. Penn State transfer Kiyomi McMiller scored 42 points against UCF and was named an AP National Player of the Week honorable mention. Moriah Murray also transferred from Penn State, and Vanessa Harris joined Florida after being named Atlantic 10 Sixth Woman of the Year at Rhode Island last season.
About South Florida
South Florida opened the season 2-0 with an 80-54 win over Furman at the Yuengling Center on Nov. 2 and a 69-66 win at Belmont on Nov. 6. South Florida did not trail in either game, leading Furman wire-to-wire and Belmont for all but two ties, before falling to Rhode Island 82-63 on Sunday to close the trip to Nashville.
- Fatou Diakite was named American Conference Player of the Week Honorable Mention after averaging 16.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in Nashville. She shot 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) in the two games, including a career-high 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting against Rhode Island.
- Six South Florida players scored in double figures against Furman, led by Stefanie Ingram’s 15 points and five assists, and South Florida outrebounded the Paladins 48-25.
- Amourie Porter’s layup and free throw with three seconds left beat Belmont after the Bruins tied the game with 10 seconds to go. Hannah Kohn scored 18 points, and South Florida held Belmont to four points in the second quarter.
- South Florida made its first 11 two-point attempts of the second half against Rhode Island.
Series History
Florida leads the all-time series 34-3. The teams last met on March 18, 2010, a 61-54 Florida win in Gainesville, so Thursday is the first meeting in more than 16 years. South Florida’s last win in the series was a 61-56 victory in Tampa on March 17, 2005, and its only win in Gainesville was a 57-56 decision on Feb. 14, 1977.
South Florida Notes
- Owning the paint: South Florida has outscored all three opponents in the paint, 120-76 combined.
- Double-figure streak: Fatou Diakite has scored in double figures in all three games (11, 13, 19) and passed 300 career points against Rhode Island.
- One away: Hannah Kohn has 199 career three-pointers and needs one more to reach 200.
- Double milestone watch: Kate Novik has 489 career rebounds, 11 shy of becoming a 1,000-point, 500-rebound player.
- Assist watch: Stefanie Ingram has 383 career assists, 17 shy of 400.
- Rhode Island ties: Florida head coach Tammi Reiss and guard Vanessa Harris both came from Rhode Island, the team South Florida faced on Sunday.
- Curry’s climb: Kristy Curry is 556-323 in her 28th season as a head coach, 44 wins shy of 600.
Tickets
Fans can purchase women’s basketball tickets by calling 1-800-GoBulls or at USFBullsTix.com.
Follow South Florida Women’s Basketball
Be sure to follow South Florida women’s basketball on social media (X / Instagram/ Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
About South Florida Women’s Basketball
Kristy Curry was named the seventh South Florida women’s basketball head coach in program history. South Florida women’s basketball has built a storied tradition over the past 25 seasons, highlighted by 19 postseason tournament appearances and 10 NCAA Tournament berths. The program has achieved 13 20-win seasons, two WNIT Final Four appearances, and captured the 2008-09 WNIT championship.
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Source: gousfbulls.com
