USF Women’s Basketball Can’t Overcome Poor Third Quarter in 69-66 Loss at Temple

The University of South Florida women’s basketball team shot themselves in the foot once again Thursday night in the 69-66 loss at Temple. A horrific third quarter, poor decisions with the ball, and another rough shooting night doomed the Bulls.

USF (10-7, 2-1 AAC) came into Thursday night shooting a dismal 39% from the field, and continued the porous performance from the floor, shooting 37% at Temple, including a 5-for-15 stretch in the third quarter that saw the Bulls trail by as many as 18 after trailing by just three at halftime.

Freshman Elena Tsineke led the Bulls with 20 points, and hit four of the Bulls’ five three’s on the night. Sophomore guard Sydni Harvey followed up her fantastic performance versus Tulsa with a 19-point effort.

The usually reliable Bethy Mununga had an uncharacteristic game, shooting 1-for-6 from the floor and coughing the ball up four times. She added in eight rebounds. Freshman guard Kristyna Brabencova went 1-for-8 from the floor, and missed all five three-point attempts she had, and three of them were wide open.

Temple’s (11-6, 4-1 AAC) Mia Davis carved the Bulls up from inside and outside, hitting all three three-point attempts as she finished with a game-high 25 points and eight rebounds.

After the Owls went up 57-39 with 1:16 left in the third quarter, the Bulls out-scored them 27-12 over the final 11:16, but came up just short. It’s another game this season that head coach Jose Fernandez will lament as a game that keeps the Bulls out of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.

USF hosts Central Florida on Sunday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.