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Bulls Could Be Improved Squad

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 4, 2007

TAMPA - This year the University of South Florida women's basketball team enters a new era: A.D.

After Dickson.

For the past four seasons, the Bulls have been carried by Jessica Dickson, the program's all-time leading scorer. This season, though, the Bulls will be without Dickson - but may be even better.

"You're not going to replace Jessica," USF coach Jose Fernandez said. "But top to bottom, this definitely is our most talented team, basketball-wise and athletically-wise."

A reason for Fernandez's optimism is an influx of newcomers and transfers, most notably Jessica Lawson (California) and Brittany Denson (Miami), a pair of 6-foot-3 post players.

"The biggest difference is our post players," Fernandez said. "They're all mobile and can run the floor."

Lawson was a Pac-10 all-freshman selection at California in 2004-05, averaging 10.6 points and 5.0 rebounds. She sat out the 2005-06 season with a knee injury before coming to USF and sitting out last season as a transfer.

"I'm excited," Lawson said. "I came into a great program. It's on the rise.

"I've always been the only post player. This year, what's different, no one can guard us in the post. We can pull it outside and play the high-low."
Denson spent 1 1/2 seasons at Miami, averaging 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds, before transferring to USF last January. She will become eligible after the first semester is complete, meaning she'll miss USF's first nine games.

"That's why I think that our post play is a strength right now," Fernandez said. "In the Big East you have to have an inside-outside presence. Rutgers has Kia Vaughn and Connecticut has Tina Charles. Last year we played the whole season with just one inside post player."

Besides losing Dickson (19.6 points), USF also lost starting center Nalini Miller (9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds) and guard Rachael Sheats (7.8 points).

Junior guard Shantia Grace (14.4 points, 4.7 assists) and senior forward ChiChi Okpaleke (7 points, 6.5 rebounds) are USF's only returning starters.

Besides Lawson and Denson, the Bulls also added junior college point guard Jazmine Sepulveda, junior college forward Ashley Sanders and freshmen Gianna Messina, of The Academy of the Holy Names, and Lonnie Terrell.

The Bulls were picked to finish ninth in the Big East coaches poll. The eight teams picked in front of USF all reached the NCAA Tournament last season.

The Bulls, who have made a record four consecutive postseason appearances, are looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.

"We want to get to the NCAA Tournament," said Fernandez, 100-107 in seven years at USF, but 61-35 the past three seasons. "That's our expectation for every year.

"I don't want this to sound bad, but a lot of programs would love to get to the NIT. To put another postseason WNIT banner up there is great, but not going to the NCAA Tournament then the season is not a success.

"It's like the New York Yankees not making the World Series. You can't consider the season a success."

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

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