Orekhova and Rowe Have to Raise Their Game Down the Stretch for USF

Caitlin Rowe (above) and Inga Orekhova are two key playmakers that have to  raise their game down the stretch for the Bulls.

The USF ladies, now sitting at 12-12, have been close in several games, only to fall down the stretch.  The Bulls, who were hoping to improve off of their 12-19 (3-13) campaign from last season, now must win out in their final games in order to beat last year's win total and try for the postseason.

Two players in particular that must step up are guard Inga Orekhova and center Caitlin Rowe.  Now this is not a knock on either player, both are having strong seasons, but they must come up big down the stretch to help score buckets and take pressure off of Wynne (20 straight double digit scoring effort, she is doing what she can).

Orekhova, aka the rifle, has not been consistent with her 3-point shot.  She is shooting 36% from beyond the arch, shooting 27 of 74, not making a high percentage of her shots.  Overall, she is averaging 12.2 points per game, 2 rebounds a game, has 13 steals and 7 blocks.  She is shooting 34% from inside the arch as well, so she has the ability to shoot inside as well as launch them from the arch. Orekhova needs to be more consistent with her 3-point shots and take more shots inside the arch where she has great accuracy.  She has only played 9 games, but the Bulls will need her even more as they finish the season.

The other player that must step up is center Cailtin Rowe.  Rowe is averaging 6.8 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, and has 31 blocks on the season, great numbers, but she has the potential to do so much more in the paint.  At times she can be ineffective at the rim, not finishing shots or getting in foul trouble.  At 6'4", she has all the talent in the world to dominate the paint and help the USF scoring attack, but she has to be smart with the ball and avoid foul trouble to keep her in the game longer and help lead the team. 

The Bulls will get another chance at a huge road win tomorrow morning when they travel to New York to take on the St. John's Red Storm in a near "must-win" for this team.  With the season slowing coming to an end, the Bulls will need to play their best basketball down the stretch.