USF Women Drop To 0-3 In Big East

TAMPA - Entering this season, the University of South Florida women's basketball team had aspirations of returning to the NCAA Tournament.

At this point, the Bulls will have their work cut out just to make the Big East Tournament.

USF lost to Syracuse 67-60 Saturday night, falling to 0-3 in Big East play before an announced crowd of 1,004 at the Sun Dome. The Bulls are tied with Louisville for last place in the league and the bottom four teams in the 16-team league do not qualify for the Big East Tournament.

"It's not going to get any easier," USF coach Jose Fernandez said. "We still have at Connecticut, at Notre Dame, Rutgers, DePaul and Pittsburgh at home. Those five teams are in the top 25 in the country and we're 0-3.

"You look at your list, where you going to get your wins from? You have to bring it every night. We've lost in the Big East by six, seven and 12. That's what it is: conference play and you have to make plays."

Against Syracuse (14-2, 2-1 Big East), the Bulls (10-6) rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit and took a 50-49 lead with 6:01 remaining on Brittany Denson's two free throws. However, with three minutes remaining the Orange regained the lead at 55-54 and then reeled off five consecutive points, including a 3-pointer by Chandrea Jones.

USF never came closer than four the rest of the way.

"When they hit that 3-pointer it really hurt us," said USF guard Jazmine Sepulveda, who had eight points and seven assists.

Shantia Grace led USF with 16 points, but was only 5-for-19 from the field. Denson had 10 points and a career-high tying 13 rebounds. ChiChi Okpaleke added eight points and six rebounds.

"We've got to continue to get better," Fernandez said. "We had flat-out wide-open looks. You have to make shots at this level against Big East Conference opponents. There's no excuse.

"It was not a bad job defensively. I don't have any problem with our effort. But if you can't score in the paint with post players behind you, that's a major problem. If you can't knock down wide-open shots, that's another problem."

USF finished 30.1 percent from the field, including 24.5 percent from the Bulls' starters.

"Coach said the only way you win is if you change," Denson said.