College basketball

Tonight: South florida women vs. Saint Louis

By GREG AUMAN
Published January 21, 2005

WHEN/WHERE: 7; Sun Dome, Tampa.

RECORDS: Saint Louis 2-15, 1-3 C-USA; USF 12-6, 2-2.

COACHES: Saint Louis - Jill Pizzotti (111-159, 10th season), USF - Jose Fernandez (51-78, fifth season).

NOTES: USF is coming off a rough road weekend against two of C-USA's toughest frontcourts, and Saint Louis should allow the Bulls to get back on track. The Billikens have C-USA's worst overall record and rank last in rebounding margin, which lessens the impact of the absence of Bulls starting center Nalini Miller, out with a strained hamstring. ... The Bulls had perhaps their worst game of the season Sunday in a 65-45 loss at Houston, making 1 of 21 3-pointers and setting a season low for points. But Saint Louis has the conference's third-worst 3-point defense, which could help USF's perimeter shooters improve on 21 percent shooting beyond the arc in league play. ... Saint Louis is led by 5-foot-9 freshman guard Mia Johnson, who is fifth in C-USA in scoring at 18.1 points per game and leads the league in 3-pointers made. The only other Billiken scoring in double figures is 6-foot forward Marquita McFarland, who is sixth in C-USA in rebounding, one spot behind USF's Ezria Parsons. ... Since Miller's injury, guard Rachael Sheats has emerged as a third scoring threat, averaging 10.8 points in conference play to join Jessica Dickson (15.3) and Anedra Gilmore (10.5) in double figures.

[Last modified January 21, 2005, 00:30:24]