Sammie Puisis' huge night leads USF women to their 20th win and ninth in a row

Next game: USF (20-8, 13-2) at Tulsa (14-13, 8-7)

When: Wednesday, February 26, 7:30 p.m.

TV/radio: ESPN+ and Bulls Unlimited

Teams playing against the USF women’s basketball team understand a basic truth: To have any chance of winning, they have to stop Sammie Puisis.

A game Memphis squad couldn’t do that Saturday night at the Yuengling Center and paid the price. Puisis scored a career-high 34 points, leading the Bulls to an 80-70 victory. It was USF’s ninth consecutive win, all coming in American Athletic Conference games. It was also their 20th win of the season, the 12th time that has happened under head coach Jose Fernandez.

The Bulls improved to 13-2 in AAC play and remain in second place, a game behind UTSA in the loss column. The Roadrunners survived an upset bid by Rice 57-55 on Saturday.

“We had one kid (Puisis) who had a special night,” Fernandez said. “A lot goes into that, wanting to take those shots. Her teammates finding her and people setting screens for her.”

Puisis echoed that sentiment.

“My teammates just did a great job of finding me,” she said. “They give me so much confidence. Even if I hit one or miss, they’re always telling me to keep shooting. It was fun. It’s fun to be with my teammates. I’m realizing I  don’t have many games left. I have one more left in the Yuengling, so I want to give it my all every night.”

She was 6-of-13 on three-pointers, which we’ve almost come to expect. Puisis definitely was in the zone for this one.

However, she wasn’t a one-person show. Carla Brito added 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Mama Dembele had six assists.

After a trip to Tulsa on Wednesday, the Bulls return to Tampa for a final game at home on Saturday against East Carolina. After that, it’s on to the AAC Tournament which, despite their record, the Bulls likely will have to win to ensure an NCAA bid.

There still is no makeup date for the Tulane game, which was postponed on January 22. It appears doubtful that game will be played unless the Bulls can catch UTSA. The Roadrunners are at Tulane on Tuesday and close the regular season at home against Florida Atlantic.

If they win both of those games, they would clinch the regular-season AAC title. Given the near certainty that the conference will receive only one NCAA bid, finishing in first place won’t make a difference. The league’s low NET ranking likely means that the only path to March Madness is to secure the automatic bid that goes to the conference champion.