Colleges

Clutch Dickson sets record

Jessica Dickson's teammates carried her much of the way Monday, but in the final eight minutes, the USF senior played like the all-time leading scorer in Bulls basketball history.

By GREG AUMAN
Published February 27, 2007

TAMPA - Jessica Dickson's teammates carried her much of the way Monday, but in the final eight minutes, the USF senior played like the all-time leading scorer in Bulls basketball history.

Dickson, overcoming 3-for-16 shooting, scored 12 of her 17 in those final eight minutes, leading USF to a crucial 60-51 victory against Seton Hall in the final home game for four senior starters.

"It all just played out well," said Dickson, whose final two free throws with 27 seconds left gave her 2,321 points, passing Charlie Bradley 1982-85 as USF's all-time leader for men and women. "For it to be Senior Night, for us to go out with a win, this is a great momentum boost going into the Big East (tournament)."

USF (19-10, 9-7) had dropped five of six entering Monday's game, and Seton Hall (18-10, 9-7) had won nine of 10, threatening to steal USF's place in the NCAA Tournament. The teams meet again Saturday in the first round of the Big East tournament, and another USF win would put it in good position for an at-large berth.

"I'm happy for them ... now we have to go to Hartford and win our first-round game," said coach Jose Fernandez, whose team committed eight turnovers while forcing 18 before a Sun Dome crowd of 830. "If we can get that one, that will put us at 20 (wins) and get another chance at Connecticut in Hartford."

Senior center Nalini Miller, limited by foul trouble to 21 minutes, had 15 points and four blocks, and ChiChi Okpaleke had 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Seton Hall got 18 points and 19 rebounds from forward Monique Blake.

[Last modified February 26, 2007, 23:17:17]