College basketball

USF gets in flow, beats Memphis

The Bulls break out of a shooting slump and tie the school record with their ninth straight home win.

By GREG AUMAN
Published January 24, 2005

TAMPA - Getting another conference win was huge. But for South Florida, getting back in an offensive rhythm was the most important part of Sunday's 72-58 win over Memphis.

"Just to get some momentum back in us, to get some intensity and fire back in us, this was big for us," senior point guard Anedra Gilmore said. "I think it's going to get us rolling."

The Bulls (14-6, 4-2 Conference USA) shot 30 percent from the field in their previous three games, and sophomore forward Jessica Dickson had the same percentage in losses at Texas Christian and Houston and in a win Friday against Saint Louis.

On Sunday, Dickson found her shot, scoring a season-high 27 on 11-of-23 shooting. USF's offense clicked while its defense continued to shine, forcing 20 turnovers and allowing Memphis (10-9, 3-3) to hit just three of its first 19 shots. With games at Marquette Friday and No.18 DePaul Sunday, the Bulls were glad to get their leading scorer back on track.

"Jessica had a good offensive game, got really assertive and took good shots," coach Jose Fernandez said. "It's a good win, and it just gets us closer to hopefully getting 19 or 20 for the year, putting us in good shape, I think, for an NCAA bid."

It would be USF's first trip to the NCAAs, and Sunday's win was a step in that direction, leaving the Bulls two victories short of the school record. With starting center Nalini Miller out with a strained hamstring, USF has held its own, despite having only one true center on its roster.

Memphis hit three field goals in the first 17 minutes. The Bulls pulled away late in the first half as Dickson converted on three consecutive possessions during an 11-2 run. A 14-point, halftime lead never ducked below 12, and the Bulls showed why they're among the national leaders in turnovers, finishing with 10 after having nine in Friday's win.

Gilmore, who needed seven stitches on her left cheek after a collision Friday night, was near perfect, with nine assists, one turnover and four steals. She finished with 12 on a balanced-scoring afternoon that saw eight players with four or more points.

"She played like a warrior," said Fernandez, whose team remains one game out of second place in the conference standings. "Now we go on the road to play two of the toughest teams in the league in Marquette and DePaul."

A Sun Dome crowd of 724 saw the Bulls match a school record with their ninth consecutive home win. The mark was set during the last seven games of 1976-77 and the first two games of 1977-78.

Forward Jennifer Sullivan scored 14 to lead Memphis, which had won two straight against the Bulls.

[Last modified January 24, 2005, 01:32:09]