USF Women open defense of WNIT title at Florida

Posted Mar 15, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Mar 15, 2010 at 11:06 PM

The University of South Florida women’s basketball team ended last season by cutting down the nets after defeating Kansas in the WNIT championship game.

The Bulls (15-15) learned late Monday night they will have an opportunity to repeat as WNIT champions. The Bulls will face Florida in Gainesville in the first round Thursday. The winner faces the Miami-Florida Gulf Coast winner in the second round.

The WNIT berth marks USF’s seventh consecutive postseason trip under Coach Jose Fernandez.

“Any time you can continue to play after your regular season and conference tournament, it’s a credit to the staff and the players’ hard work,” Fernandez said. “There are a lot of teams that would like to be playing late into March and into April.”

Fernandez said the goal is to “put another banner up,” but with only eight players available due to injuries and suspensions, the Bulls know they face a tough task.

“We had a lot of ups and downs,” senior Melissa Dalembert said. “It’s not the NCAA, but it’s a tournament and something we could win just like last year.”