Although the early part of the season was strewn with potholes in the form of a killer non-conference schedule coupled with key injuries, the USF women's basketball team has persevered. The Bulls' convincing 70-53 win Tuesday night over American Conference rival UTSA is the latest example of a team that has come together in impressive style.
It wasn't just that the Bulls handed the Roadrunners their first conference loss. It's how they did it. USF connected on a season-high 10 3-pointers, all in the first half, led by Jelena Bulajic's five long-range shots.
And when the Roadrunners came out hot and raced to an 11-3 lead, the Bulls shook it off and put together a 16-2 run of their own. They blitzed the visitors with a 30-point eruption in the second quarter that basically put the game away.
"I thought we had a phenomenal first half. I wish we would have played a little bit better, a little less turnovers in the second half, but I feel the effort is always there," interim head coach Michele Woods-Baxter said.
"Sometimes we get a little too unselfish once we have big leads, and then everybody's passing the ball, and then we end up having some turnovers."
It was USF's fourth consecutive conference win after opening league play with a 2-point homecourt loss to Rice. The Owls lead the American with a 3-0 league record while the Bulls are tied for second with North Texas and East Carolina at 4-1 in the league.
The Bulls are 11-6 overall. After non-conference schedule that included games against UConn, South Carolina , and UCLA -- currently the top three ranked teams in the country -- and a toe-stub against Rice, things are clicking.
"I think my team's about wanting to play fast. You know, I think we we want to score," Woods-Baxter said.
"I think people's jobs are gonna try to be to stop us now, and that's the mentality I want us to go in with every game defensively. We tweaked a few hings after our our loss to Rice, and our girls bought into everything, and now our defense is catching up with our offense, and yeah, I'm excited."
USF is home again on Saturday against Wichita State. The game starts at 7 p.m.