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USF maintains perfect record

TAMPA -- South Florida maintained its balanced scoring attack as well as its perfect record in a 90-56 rout of Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis in the final of the Roundball Classic on Saturday at the Sun Dome.

The Bulls are one winfrom matching the best start in school history, 8-0 by the 1976-77 club.

"I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't have thought we would be undefeated at this point, but we are and it's a good feeling," coach Jose Fernandez said. "It's all related to their hard work in practice and their preparation."

USF opened a 20-5 lead when Tristen Webb hit a jumper off an Alana Tanksley steal at 11:51. The steal was USF's seventh, and the Bulls had 14 by halftime. "I thought we came out of the gate with a great amount of energy and a great amount of intensity," Fernandez said. "The first half, we applied our pressure defense as good as we have all year."

Not to be outdone, USF's offense rained 3-pointers, going 9-for-21 in the first half. Allison AuBuchon had three, and Sonia Cotton and Melissa Tape added a pair each.

The bench, just four deep, combined for 40 points and 25 rebounds against the Jaguars.

"I'm pleased that when we go to the bench to Tristen, Alana, Melissa and Ashley (Teets), we don't lose a beat," Fernandez said. "That's what we want. It's the same intensity and energy that we have with our five starters."

USF built a 37-point lead in the second half before IUPUI (2-4) used a 20-9 run to close to 26 with 4:02 remaining. The Jaguars got no closer.

Aiya Shepard earned tournament MVP honors, scoring a game-high 16 along with 7 steals, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 26 minutes. AuBuchon and Tanksley joined her on the all-tournament team.

State

NO. 19 FLORIDA 78, CREIGHTON 67: Brandi McCain scored 23 points and Vanessa Hayden had 20 points, 18 rebounds and 5 blocked shots in the opening round of the Tulane Invitational in New Orleans. Florida (4-2), which survived 22 turnovers and 11 3-point goals by Creighton (1-3), plays Tulane, which beat McNeese State 90-34, today. Courtney Cooper added 16 points for Florida, which held a 55-35 rebounding advantage.

KENTUCKY 60, MIAMI 57: The visiting Hurricanes missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to slip to 3-2. Meghan Saake and Shaquana Wilkins led the Hurricanes with 12 points each. The Wildcats (3-2) went on a 9-0 run to take a 32-25 lead into halftime. The closest the Hurricanes came was 54-53 with 1:37 left.

SAINT LEO 66, NEW YORK TECH 64: Ashley Storm's running 6-footer in the lane with 1.8 seconds to play was her only basket of the second half, but it was all that was needed to end a three-game losing streak for the visiting Lions. New York Tech fell to 0-2. Ebony Winn had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Saint Leo (2-3).

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