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Bulls Fall Short Against Marquette

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2009

TAMPA - One step forward, two steps back. That has been the story for the University of South Florida women's basketball team in Big East play this season.

The Bulls lost to Marquette, 71-56, on Tuesday as the Bulls failed in their latest attempt to win consecutive Big East games for the first time this season.

The loss came three days after Saturday's impressive win at Rutgers.

"What's frustrating to me is how you win a big game on the road and then come home and lose worse than you lost when you played them at your place," USF junior guard Janae Stokes said. "Overall, the word I can use for this game is 'effort.' They had more effort than we did."

USF (16-7, 3-6 Big East) also lost to Marquette (13-9, 4-4), 68-60, in its Big East opener Jan. 3.

"Two glowing factors," USF coach Jose Fernandez said. "We gave up 22 offensive rebounds, and the free throw shooting 18 of 34 was absolutely horrible."

The only thing worse was USF's effort.

"When you have to coach effort, that's a huge problem," Fernandez said. "We were doing that a lot tonight. That is a great problem and a big concern especially when you have as many upperclassmen as we have."

USF's Shantia Grace had 13 points and Jessica Lawson had 11. Porche Grant had seven points and 12 rebounds.

"Before the game we had no energy," Grace said. "We just weren't together coming into the game and it carried on into the game."

The Bulls trailed by seven at halftime, and Marquette ended on a 26-14 run.

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