St. Petersburg Times Online: Business

Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Women: USF tops FIU for tournament title

wire services
Published November 21, 2004

MIAMI - Ezria Parsons scored 15, including 10 in the second half, and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Jessica Dickson added 14 points to help USF to a 55-43 win over Florida International in the Miami Jam championship game.

The Bulls (3-1), who have played four road games in eight days, played most of the first half without Dickson, Nalini Miller and Anedra Gilmore because of foul trouble, but USF led 24-19 at the half.

Although the Bulls didn't have their offensive threats, they stepped up on defense, holding the Golden Panthers to six field goals in the first half.

USF opened the second half with a 9-2 run that lasted just more than two minutes. They went up by as many as 14 twice in the half, but the Golden Panthers cut the lead to 47-41 on a layup by Lasma Jekabsone with 2:36 left. Parsons scored six of her 15 in the final 2:12 to ice it.

USF scored 16 off 18 FIU turnovers. USF had 11 turnovers, two in the second half. "We beat two very good teams (Texas A&M and FIU) from two very good women's basketball conferences (Big 12 and Sun Belt)," USF coach Jose Fernandez said. TAMPA 66, AUGUSTA ST. 61: Tay Mathis and Sheena Walton each had 15 points, and Jamie Skinner and Shay Mackey each added 11 for the Spartans at the USC Aiken Tip-Off Classic in South Carolina.

SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 81, SAINT LEO 52: The Lions shot 36.4 percent, were outrebounded 38-32 and had 22 turnovers at the West Florida Tip-Off Classic in Pensacola.

FLORIDA GULF COAST 57, ECKERD 44: Forward Andrea Clarke scored 21 for the host Eagles in the final of the Hillmyer Tremont Classic. Freshman guard Ryan Trettevik led the Tritons with 13 points.

UCF 60, UNLV 58: Celeste Hudson led the visiting Golden Knights with 22 points.

Top 25

NO. 11 NOTRE DAME 66, NO. 10 OHIO ST. 62: Jacqueline Batteast scored seven in the host Irish's game-ending 12-0 run in the Preseason WNIT championship game.

NO. 15 MICH. ST. 77, CENTRAL CONN. ST. 42: Kelli Roehrig had 15 points in the first game of the Spartan Classic.

NO. 17 RUTGERS 90, RIDER 42: Michelle Campbell scored a career-high 33 for the host Scarlet Knights.

NO. 18 BOSTON COLLEGE 71, W. MICHIGAN 50: Jessalyn Deveny, Clare Droesch and Brooke Queenan teamed for 55 points in the Spartan Classic.

NO. 20 DEPAUL 99, USC 77: Jenni Dant scored 29 to lead the host Blue Demons.

© Copyright, St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.