USF Women Upset No. 11 DePaul In OT

[Guest_Pariah]

Why doesn't this rate a headline on the board. Its probably in a thread, but c'mon most of us blow off the fairer sex threads.

USF Women Upset No. 11 DePaul In OT

By GREGG BECNEL Tribune correspondent

TAMPA - It was a historic night in a new conference against an old foe.

In its inaugural Big East game Wednesday night at the Sun Dome, the University of South Florida women's basketball team defeated No. 11 DePaul, a former Conference USA rival, 79-77 in overtime.

The Blue Demons (7-1, 0-1) are the highest-ranked team USF (6-1, 1-0) has beaten in school history - men's or women's. The victory also extends the Bulls' home winning streak to nine.

Wednesday's game will be televised at 9 tonight on Catch 47 on Bright House Networks.

"We were at a low a couple of years ago," said senior forward Ezria Parsons, who finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals. "But we feel we're an NCAA Tournament team. We feel we're as good as anybody in the country."

Jessica Dickson, who played all 45 minutes and was one of five Bulls to play at least 36, scored a season-high 35 points, including four 3-pointers. She shot 11-of-19 from the floor and nine of 10 at the free-throw line. It was her third 30-plus-point outing in the past four games.

"Dickson works hard to get the ball," DePaul coach Doug Bruno said. "And once she gets it, it's hard to stop her."

The Bulls were able to harass Blue Demons All-American center Khara Smith (17 points), who fouled out at the 4:52 mark of the second half with USF up 60-58.

"We really attacked her in some of our sets and we went at her," Bulls coach Jose Fernandez said. "Defensively, we always wanted her to turn to the middle. We had two or three people in the lane, so when she turned middle our help was there and we were able to take a couple of charges."

Without Smith in OT, USF built a 76-70 lead and held off DePaul's late rally.

Freshman point guard Shantia Grace had a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 10 assists, and center Sharon Cambridge came up big down the stretch, scoring all 12 of her points in the second half.

After losing at No. 7 North Carolina last week, USF closes out its three-game stretch against ranked teams when the Bulls host No. 13 Michigan State on Saturday.

Great win girls!! Congratulations!!

[Guest_Pariah]

USF forward Jessica Dickson goes up for two of her 35 points against DePaul's Caprice Smith, left, and Jenna Rubino. Dickson had nine of the Bulls' 15 overtime points, and went 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the last 30 seconds of OT.

Bulls have grand opener

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer

Published December 8, 2005

TAMPA - Just like its football counterparts, USF's women's basketball team made quite a statement in its first-ever Big East game Wednesday night.

The Bulls, getting 35 points from junior Jessica Dickson, pulled off the biggest upset in their history, knocking off No. 11 DePaul 79-77 in overtime in front of 482 fans at the Sun Dome.

"This game is very big for us," said Dickson, who hit two key shots in the final 2:19 and then scored nine points in overtime. "This being our first Big East game, and against a ranked opponent, it definitely sets the tone for us in the Big East."

The Bulls (6-1, 1-0) won't play another league game for a month, and just as USF's football team turned heads in September with an opening upset of No. 9 Louisville, these Bulls wanted to send a message.

"We feel we're an NCAA (tournament) team, and especially with this win tonight, I think we can beat anybody in our conference," said forward Ezria Parsons, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds. "If we play as a team, if we listen to our coaches, I think we can compete with anybody, and we went out and proved that tonight."

DePaul coach Doug Bruno said he came in hoping to contain Dickson, the Big East's leading scorer, but had little luck as she hit 11 of 19 shots, including four 3-pointers, to fall one point off her career high.

"I think we knew we'd have limited answers for Jess Dickson, and we really had no answers for her," Bruno said. "The whole USF ballclub really played a good, solid game."

DePaul (7-1, 0-1) lost its post presence when All-American forward Khara Smith (17 points) fouled out on a charge with 4:54 to play. While Dickson was dominant, the Bulls got their best game yet from freshman point guard Shantia Grace, who had 11 points and 10 assists with only two turnovers. They used just six players, with Dickson and Grace playing all 45 minutes.

Wednesday's game is sandwiched between Friday's 71-47 loss at No.7 North Carolina and this Saturday's home game against No.13 Michigan State. Coach Jose Fernandez said he lined up an aggressive schedule to prepare his team for opportunities like this.

"Scheduling North Carolina, LSU and Michigan State, a lot of people thought I was crazy," said Fernandez, who entered the game 2-9 against ranked opponents. "Where we want to take this program, we want to contend with the best teams in the country. For them to bounce back (from UNC) and stay focused, they showed a lot of heart and a lot of character."

The game will be shown at 9 p.m. tonight on Bright House Ch. 47.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/08/Sports/Bulls_have_grand_open.shtml

[Velcro]

We were all over it on the board DURING the game... there is a huge thread on the subject.  

[dabull80]

Can I trade my mens BB season tickets for the womens games ?  Shows you how a good coach can turn a program around from the bottom and make them competitive.

[BullDoug]

 Hot ****!  You go girls!  Kick n arse and taking names.

[smazza]

tremendous

give that coach an extension

[smazza]

he should get 7 year extension

[Guest]

I agree...

[Guest]

... with smazza.

(Why post once when two will do ?? 34 seconds apart no less).

tremendous

give that coach an extension

he should get 7 year extension

[Markeymark]

Can I trade my mens BB season tickets for the womens games ?

Yeah, no kidding.  :-/