WNIT: Wake Forest next up for USF

By GREG AUMAN
Published March 19, 2005

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TAMPA - South Florida, hoping to extend the most successful season in its history, plays on the road for the second round of the Women's NIT.

The Bulls are scheduled to leave today for Winston-Salem, N.C., where they'll have a 7 p.m. tipoff Monday at Wake Forest, a 100-75 winner against Charlotte on Friday night.

The Bulls (21-10), who beat Florida 61-56 Thursday night for the first postseason victory in school history, are one of 16 teams remaining in the WNIT field.

"Once you're in the round of 16, every game is a tough game," USF coach Jose Fernandez said. "I think their (3-11) ACC record is very deceiving, because (five) of their losses are in single digits. They could have easily been a .500 club in conference play, and that would have put them in the NCAA Tournament. It's going to be a good game for us."

Wake Forest (16-14), which is making its first postseason appearance since 1988, broke open a close game in the second half against Charlotte (22-9). USF beat the 49ers 68-59 on Feb. 7. They face a Demon Deacons team that opened the season 10-1. Seven of its losses were against ranked teams. Wake Forest has an RPI of 78. USF's is 75.

The game will air locally on 570-AM and 910-AM. The winner plays the St. John's-West Virginia winner in the quarterfinals.