The USF ladies, 16-14 (8-8) in the regular season, are the 9 seed as they head to Hartford to begin the 2012 Big East tournament. After a big overtime win vs. Providence, the ladies open the first round against the 16th seed, Pitt, who is 8-21 (0-16) on the season. USF beat Pitt 62 to 50 earlier this season. Tahira Johnson had 12 points, Jasmine Wynne had 14, as the Bulls had a balanced scoring attack as they pulled away with the win.
Pitt averages just 56 points per game, turns the ball over 3 times more than their opponents, and is out rebounded by over 2 rebounds a game, so USF should have the advantage in this game, but come tournament time, anything can happen.
Pitt is led by freshman guard Brianna Kisel (5-6). She is averaging 13.2 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, has a team high 87 assists, and has 35 steals. Sophomore guard Ashlee Anderson (5-9) is averaging 10.8 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and had 43 steals on the season. Sophomore guard Marquel Davis (5-9) is averaging 8.3 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, and has 34 steals (notice the number of balanced steals by the quick guards of Pitt, something to watch in this game).
Sophomore center Leeza Burdgess (6-5) is averaging 6.1 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, and has 23 blocks, so the Bulls will have to account for her on drives to the basket (also key matchup for Rowe and McDonald in the game as well). Sophomore forward Kyra Dunn (6-2) is averaging 5.1 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and has 34 blocks. Sophomore guard Abby Dowd (5-9) is averaging 4.7 points per game and 2 rebounds per game and sophomore guard Asia Logan (6-0) is averaging 5.5 points per game and 2 rebounds per game off the bench.
On paper, USF should win this game and be in control, but on neutral sites, anything can happen. The Bulls won the first game due to a balanced scoring attack with Wynne, Johnson, and Orekhova firing away and playing lockdown defense. Pitt doesn't score a lot of points, so they will want to slow the pace and make it a low scoring affair. The Bulls should have enough firepower to put up points and pull away late in the game.
Is there any coverage of these games. My Daughter is up there with the pep band and I would love to see these games! Go Bulls!
ReplyDeleteA few options, there is 1010AM Radio that should have the game, Bullcast (www.gousfbulls.com), and the BigEast.Tv should have the game as well. The USF website will have live stats available (might be delayed) or might have to use the Pitt athletic site for their live stats if USF is not available. We will have full recap of the game as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm not in Tampa so radio will not work but I will check Bullcast or Pitt's site Thanks I appreciate it. Go Bulls!
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