Colleges

Bulls look sharp in battering Stetson

By Times wires
Published November 21, 2007

TAMPA - USF quickly answered any questions about fatigue, opening with a 13-0 run en route to an 86-44 romp over Stetson on Tuesday night at the Sun Dome.

Jessica Lawson scored 20 to lead four players in double figures for the Bulls (3-2), who were playing their fifth game in eight days, including back-to-back games over the weekend. Shantia Grace added 18 points, Caitlyn Mitryk and Porche Grant both scored a career-high 10, and Grant added 12 rebounds for her first career double double.

"I'm happy with our kids' effort because I think that they played with much more energy and with a better intensity level" than over the weekend, coach Jose Fernandez said. "But it's all relative. Stetson played hard and it's an instate rivalry team, but right now we're looking at the big picture and how we need to play to win games in the Big East."

USF stretched its early lead to 23-4 on Mitryk's layup. Stetson (1-4) got no closer than 17 in the half, at 33-16 on Jamie Nesbit's 3-pointer with 3:03 left.

The Bulls pushed their lead to 30 early in the second half.

USF shot 42.7 percent (32-of-75) from the field. More important to Fernandez, the Bulls committed just eight turnovers against the Hatters after 20 or more in each of their first four games. Last season, USF had 20 or more turnovers just once.

"That was a big area of emphasis," Fernandez said. "We had 83 in four games and we had eight tonight. That's where it needs to be at, between eight and less than 14."

NO.20 FSU 77, FORDHAM 42: Junior Mara Freshour scored a career-high 25 and hit five of the host Seminoles' season-high nine 3-pointers. Tanae Davis-Cain added 16 points and Jacinta Monroe 15 in 20 minutes of play for FSU, which pulled away with a 14-3 run midway through the first half and never was challenged.

UF 69, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M 63: Depree Bowden scored a 23 for the host Gators, who used a strong defensive effort to hold off the Panthers. Bowden shot 9-of-17 from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. Marshae Dotson earned her second double double of the season and ninth of her career with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Top 25

NO.3 MARYLAND 98, LOYOLA 50: Seldom-used freshman forward Emery Wallace scored 18 and Drey Mingo 16 to lead six players in double figures for the host Terrapins, who tied a school record with 12 3-pointers.

NO.23 NOTRE DAME 94, CENTRAL MICH. 41: Freshman Becca Mruszewski scored a career-high 13 to lead six players in double figures for the visiting Fighting Irish, who pulled away with a 20-0 run in the final six minutes of the first half.

NO.25 VANDY 74, CLEMSON 56: Liz Sherwood had 22 points and 13 rebounds and scored 11 during the visiting Commodores' 24-8 run to open the second half.

[Last modified November 21, 2007, 12:13:35]