USF Women’s Basketball Advances to AAC Tournament Final with 58-50 Win Over Houston

The South Florida Bulls women’s basketball team will look to defend their AAC Tournament championship on Thursday against Central Florida after the Bulls dispatched the Houston Cougars 58-50 in the semifinals on Wednesday night.

Elisa Pinzan paced the Bulls with a team-high 14 points, including going 7-for-7 from the free throw line to help their effort. As a team, the Bulls shot an absurd 20-for-22 from the charity stripe for the game which came in handy as USF once again struggled to make baskets.

USF shot an underwhelming 30% from the floor, and just 22% from behind the arc, but great defense, 13 second-chance points, and those free throws kept the Cougars at arms’ length the entire night.

Houston’s Laila Blair accounted for 25 of the Cougars 50 points on 9-of-18 shooting to close out her fantastic run in the AAC Tournament. But the rest of her teammates couldn’t find the bucket either shooting just 9-of-32 to sink any shot of competing.

USF’s Elena Tsineke chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, and Bethy Mununga added eight points and 18 rebounds in 39 minutes.

Senior center Shae Leverett drew in as the starter again and added 10 points of her own. It was just the second time this season the Georgia native scored in double figures.

The Bulls (24-7) will face the Central Florida Golden Knights for the AAC Tournament crown Thursday on ESPNU at 9 p.m.