USF Women’s Basketball Goes Ice Cold From Everywhere, Loses 46-44 to SMU

The Season From Hell for the USF women’s basketball team continued on Saturday as they dropped their second consecutive game, this time to SMU 46-44 behind ice cold shooting, costly turnovers, and bad late-game possessions.

The Bulls (11-9, 2-4 AAC) couldn’t hit water if they were underwater today. They shot a dismal 27.8% from the field, made just four of 25 three-point attempts, and missed 12 of their 22 free throws. USF shot 5-for-25 in the second and third quarters to allow the Mustangs (8-12, 2-5 AAC) to push a three point halftime leads to 12 midway through the third quarter before mounting a very good comeback attempt that fell just short.

With USF trailing 46-44 with under a minute left in the game, they had two chances to tie or take the lead, but a forced layup by freshman guard Elisa Pinzan that hit the bottom of the rim and a blocked three-point attempt from Enna Pehadzic after a disjointed final possession ended the comeback bid.

Pehadzic has had to shoulder much of the offensive scoring with Kitija Laksa, Laura Ferreira, Alyssa Rader, me, and you out for the season or an extended period of time and over the last two games it appears she’s been getting worn down.

She finished 2-of-14 and 1-of-9 from three today to finish with just five points. Pehadzic shot 2-of-21 and 0-of-9 from three versus Memphis on Wednesday.

Post player Tamara Henshaw played all 40 minutes and finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Freshman guard Syndi Harvey led the Bulls in scoring with 17 on 6-of-18 shooting.

The poor shooting didn’t affect the Bulls as they out-rebounds the Mustangs 45-39, held them to 30% shooting, and forced 19 turnovers. That’s the true sign of a team that will fight to the end.

This was the first time SMU has beaten the Bulls in 11 tries.

The Bulls will look to turn things around on Wednesday when they host Cincinnati at 7 p.m. inside the Yuengling Center.