Nov. 17, 2011

Box Score

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

TAMPA – Just because this game was played in a Rec Center didn't mean Bethune-Cookman was denied experiencing Big East basketball. USF gave the Lady Wildcats an experience with a 72-36 victory Thursday night.

Jasmine Wynne and Akila McDonald combined for 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead a balanced effort as USF, relocated to a campus student gymnasium while the Sun Dome undergoes a year-long renovation, won its third straight.

With its young roster, Bethune-Cookman (1-1) managed just 11 first half points against a Bulls team with not one, but two 6-4 bigs and dizzying speed on the wings, especially on defense.

“At first it looked like we were playing the uniform and the conference and not the personnel,” said B-CU coach Vanessa Blair. “USF did a good job against us. We settled down in the second half and started running our offense.”

As B-CU's youth were gaining experience, B-CU's veterans were slowed by the USF defense. Jasmine Elum and Jalissa Isaac, who scored a combined 37 points in the season opener against Ave Maria, were held to a combined 3-22 shooting effort. Elum scored five points in the opening five minutes, but managed just one field goal the rest of the way. Isaac was contained to three free throws in the second half.

The Bulls (3-2) held B-CU to one field goal in the final 6:08 of the first half to open up a 37-11 halftime lead.

Bright spots? Of course:

• Austen Harris' 28 minutes pleased Blair as the freshman from Phoenix scored nine points, all in the second half. She was 3-6 from the field.

• Sharnese Neal had a stat line of five points and five rebounds, but she competed against those USF bigs and wasn't afraid to go to the basket.

• Amber Antoine was B-CU's high rebounder with six.

B-CU travels to Florida Atlantic for a 2 p.m. game Sunday.