Pictured above: The USF women’s basketball team defeated the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 63-56.
Courtesy of Sofía García Vargas | The Crow’s Nest
By Max Steele
The USF men’s and women’s basketball teams started the regular season with home wins at the Yuengling Center on Nov. 9.
The men’s team defeated the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats 75-54 and the women’s team defeated the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros (UTRGV) 63-56.
USF’s 7-foot center, Russel Tchewa, dominated the paint and led the men’s team score board with a career-high 16 points, 12 of which came in the second half.
Guards Jamir Chaplin and Caleb Murphy also scored double digits for the Bulls with 13 and 11 points respectively.
Despite being tied 29-29 at halftime, USF pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Wildcats 46-25 and securing the team’s first win of the regular season.
Prior to the women’s game against UTRGV, the Yuengling Center gained some new memorabilia as the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Regular Season and Tournament championship banners were hoisted into the rafters, commemorating the USF women’s team historic 2020-2021 season.
Guard Elena Tsineke led the No. 21 USF women’s team in scoring and assists with 18 points and two assists. Forward Bethy Mununga grabbed a team-high 18 rebounds and scored nine points.
The USF women’s team controlled the court defensively, causing 23 turnovers from the Vaqueros. The Bulls have now won their last eight season openers.
In their second games of the regular season at the Yuengling Center, the USF women’s team defeated Alabama State 72-37 on Nov. 11 and the men’s team lost to Georgia Southern 53-41 on Nov. 13.
The two teams play next on Nov. 15, as the USF men’s team play at home against the North Carolina A&T Aggies and the women’s team play away against the University of Tennessee Volunteers.
Follow the USF men’s and women’s basketball teams on social media.
Facebook: @USFMBB / @USFWomensBasketball Instagram: @USFMBB / @USFWBB Twitter: @USFMBB / @USFWBB
