Next game: Saturday, January 4 vs. Temple (8-5, 2-0)
Where: Yuengling Center, 7 p.m.
Some nights, you just have to find a way to win, and that’s what the USF women’s basketball did Wednesday against Charlotte.
It wasn’t pretty, and Bulls coach Jose Fernandez was clearly disappointed in his team’s defensive play. But when plays had to be made at the end of the game, the Bulls made them and walked off with a 69-68 overtime victory and moved to 2-0 in the American Athletic Conference.
“We were very fortunate to win this basketball game. We found a way to win. Did we deserve to win? I don't think so, but sometimes you learn a lot from losses and you also learn a lot from bad wins,” Bulls coach Jose Fernandez said.
“But it's tough to win conference games, either on the road or at home, but hopefully our kids learned a really valuable lesson today.”
The Bulls missed 16 of their first 18 shots, including five layups and had only three points in nearly the first eight minutes of the game. Charlotte led by seven points after the first quarter, and was ahead by a basket until Sammie Puisis scored with 15 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
Puisis sank a free throw with three seconds left in OT to break a tie and give the Bulls the victory, and maybe a sigh of relief. The 49ers, 5-7 entering the game, are not exactly a powerhouse.
“I’m gonna be honest with you -- our perimeter defense today was atrocious. Atrocious. We didn't guard anybody,” Fernandez said.
“If you're not making shots, the one thing that you can always do is defend and be accountable. And guess what, keeping the ball in front of you, making sure, making sure people take contested shots.”
L'or Mputu led USF with 17 points and nine rebounds. Puisis had 14 points, while point guard Mama Dembele played all 45 minutes and finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and nine assists.
The 49ers are probably kicking themselves over the lost opportunity for an upset, especially when they look at the turnovers. Charlotte had 19 turnovers leading to 20 USF points. The Bulls turned it over only seven times.
Still, it’s worth remembering that Fernandez constantly reminds his team that it will get the best shot from every opponent. As the preseason favorite to win the conference, the Bulls will have a target on them every game.
"Our girls came out and stuck to the game plan," Charlotte coach Tomekia Reed. "We got after it defensively by limiting their top two scorers. Our entire staff is proud of the team. The belief was there tonight. I saw our team grow tonight.
“They believe in us and in each other. Some small mistakes down the stretch ended up being the deciding factor. We will keep fighting and be a tough opponent for everyone going forward.”