USF Women’s Basketball: Elena Tsineke’s 25 Points Pace the Bulls Past Temple 75-67 in OT

The South Florida Bulls women’s basketball team knocked off the Temple Owls 75-67 in overtime on Saturday to keep pace atop the AAC standings on Saturday inside the Yuengling Center.

Sophomore guard Elena Tsineke scored 22 of her team-high 25 points in the second half and overtime to help USF move to 7-0 at home this year. Tsineke scored 10 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe in overtime.

USF forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjuadeu scored 16 points, and grabbed nine rebounds in 41 minutes. Fellow foward Bethy Mununga finished with 11 points, and nine rebounds in 21 minutes before fouling out in the 4th quarter. Mununga grabbed her 800th rebound as a Bull in just her 75th career game.

Owls’ forward Mia Davis scored a game-high 26 points, including 10 in the first quarter to help give Temple an early 16-11 lead. Foul trouble in the second quarter forced Davis to the bench, and the Bulls eventually took advantage by taking a 25-24 lead into the break.

The Bulls built a five-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but a Temple 8-0 run gave them a lead, and forced head coach Jose Fernandez to call a timeout. When asked if he could share what he said to the team in the huddle he simply replied:

“No.”

Did they get the message?

“Yes.”

USF (14-5, 4-1 AAC) will head to SMU to face the Mustangs on Wednesday. SMU has been dealing with their own COVID issues. They’ve had their last two games canceled, and four of their last eight postponed.