Game 27: Tulsa vs. South Florida Preview

Wednesday, February 22

Tampa, Fla.

6:00 pm

Tulsa

South Florida

Game 27: Tulsa vs. South Florida Preview

2/20/2023 2:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Wednesday, February 22, 2023 ~ 6:00 pm Central ~ Yuengling Center ~ Tampa, Fla.

Championship Tickets: Get your tickets to the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championship by calling 918.631.4688 today. The Championship is set for March 6-9, 2023, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, and all-session tickets are just $85.

Game Notes: Tulsa

Radio: TU's games can be heard on 93.5 FM The Jet and free on the iHeart Radio App. Brandon Hart calls play-by-play.

Live Audio: Listen Here

Live Video: The Tulsa-South Florida game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Jim Louk and Leah Secondo calling the game. TU fans can subscribe to ESPN+ to watch Golden Hurricane basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball this year. ESPN+ is offered at $6.99/month or $69.99/year. To subscribe, go to plus.espn.com. Fans will be able to access ESPN+ content only after they have subscribed.

Live Stats: Click Here

Rosters: Tulsa ~ South Florida

2022-23 Season Stats: Tulsa ~ South Florida

Tulsa Facebook: TulsaHurricane ~ TulsaWBasketball

Tulsa Twitter: TulsaHurricane ~ TUWBasketball

Tulsa Instagram: TulsaHurricaneAthletics ~ TulsaWBB

The Coaches
Tulsa: Angie Nelp (Colorado State, 2002), 2nd Year
Career Record: 33-21 (2nd year)
Record at Tulsa: Same

South Florida: Jose Fernandez (FIU, 1994), 23rd Year
Record: 440-290 (23 years)
Record at South Florida: same

Tulsa's Probable Starters
F          2          Temira Poindexter, 6-1, So-1L, Sapulpa, Okla., 15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg
G         5          Delanie Crawford, 5-11, So-1L, Piedmont, Okla., 11.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg
G         10        Maya Mayberry, 5-8, Sr-2L, Tulsa, Okla., 10.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg
G         11        Maddie Bittle, 5-10, Sr-4L, Bixby, Okla., 10.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg
G/F      21        Hadley Periman, 6-2, Fr-HS, Tuttle, Okla., 2.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg

South Florida's Probable Starters
G         3          Sammie Puisis, 6-1, Jr., Mason, Ohio, 15.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg
G         5          Elena Tsineke, 5-7, Sr., Thessaloniki, Greece, 17.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg
G         22        Aerial Wilson, 5-10, Jr., Ontario, Canada, 1.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg
F          32        Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, 6-4, Sr., Cameroon, 16.7 ppg, 12.6 rpg
G         55        Carla Brito, 5-11, Fr., Las Palmas, Spain, 8.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg

Facing South Florida

South Florida has a 24-5 overall record, including a 13-1 mark in The American
Three players average double-digit points, including Elena Tsineke (17.7), Dulcy Fankam Mendijadeu (16.7) and Sammie Puisis (15.8)
Fankam Mendijadeu pulls down a team-high 12.6 rebounds per game and has a team-best of 29 blocks, while Aerial Wilson has 133 assists and Carla Brito has 33 steals.

The Series vs. South Florida

This is the 12th meeting between Tulsa and South Florida, with the Bulls winning all previous 11 games, including an 89-68 decision earlier this season in Tulsa
South Florida is 5-0 in games played at the Yuengling Center
Tulsa dropped a 66-63 decision last season in Tampa

Nation's Top 50 and Player Top 100 Rankings

Tulsa ranks among the nation's top 50 in ... three-point field goal attempts per game (2nd - 29.6), three-pointers made per game (3rd - 9.8), defensive rebounds per game (25th - 28.6), three-point field goal percentage defense (29th - 27.3), blocks per game (30th - 4.5), assists per game (35th - 16.0) and field goal percentage defense (39th - 37.0)
Maya Mayberry ranks in ... three-point field goals made (62nd - 62), three-point field goal attempts (65th - 172), three-point field goals made per game (71st - 2.38) and three-point field goal percentage (95th - 36.0)
Temira Poindexter ranks in ... blocks (60th - 38), blocks per game (68th - 1.46), field goal attempts (69th - 367), free throw percentage (71st - 84.1) and three-point field goal attempts (75th - 168)

Youngest Team in The American

Any way you look at it, Tulsa has the youngest class in The American. TU has five freshmen and four sophomores, making up 64.2 percent of the roster. South Florida is the closest with 61.5 percent of their roster being underclassmen.
The Golden Hurricane roster also features just three juniors and two super seniors for just 35.7 percent of the roster, the smallest upperclassmen percentage in the league. Again, USF is the closest with 38.4 percent.

New Best Start in The American

Tulsa had a 5-0 start in the American Athletic Conference for the first time in its nine-year history in the league.
The previous best start to league play in The American was 3-0 in the 2018-19 season ... TU had home wins over Wichita State and Memphis and a road win at East Carolina that season.
Tulsa has been a member of three conferences for women's basketball – the Western Athletic Conference (1996-2005), Conference USA (2005-2014) and now The American (20014-present) … only twice before has Tulsa started a conference season with a 5-0 mark dating back to the 2001-02 (5-0) and 2002-03 (5-0) seasons when TU competed in the Western Athletic Conference.

That's A Lot of Games

Maddie Bittle has played in 123 career games at TU, ranking third in school history. 139 games is the school record held by Rebecca Lescay (2017-22).

That's A Lot of Points

Maddie Bittle ranks 16th in scoring in school history with 931 points.
Maya Mayberry has scored 1,588 career points, including 832 at Tulsa and 756 in two seasons at Oral Roberts. Mayberry's 832 points rank 20th in school history in total points.
Katia Gallegos is nearing the 1,000-point mark as she has 999 career points, including 967 in three seasons at UTEP and 32 points this year at Tulsa.

An Accurate Career Shooter

Maya Mayberry ranks third (.376 = 160-425) in program history for three-point field goal percentage, while Delanie Crawford is fifth (.370 = 80-216)
Temira Poindexter ranks ninth (.824 = 112-136) in program history for free throw percentage

In Tulsa's Top-10 Career Leaders

Katelyn Levings ranks second in field goal percentage (.552 = 32-58)
Maya Mayberry ranks fifth in three-point field goals made in school history with 160, while Maddie Bittle is in seventh place with 150
Temira Poindexter ranks seventh in blocked shots in school history with 90 and 10th in points per game (14.0)
Ahrray Young ranks fourth in field goal percentage (.522 = 70-134)

Single Season Marks

With three regular season games remaining, as well as postseason play, Tulsa has some student-athletes already on the Tulsa Single Season Leaders list, including...
Jessika Evans in three-point field goal percentage (10th with 40.0); Katia Gallegos in free throw percentage (2nd with 92.9); Katelyn Levings in field goal percentage (6th with 55.2) and three-point field goal percentage (1st with 45.2); and Maya Mayberry in three-point field goals made (6th with 62)

Freshman Single-Season Records

Two freshmen have earned their way onto the Tulsa Freshman Single-Season Records List, including ...
Ahrray Young ranks second in field goal percentage (.522 = 70-134)
Hadley Periman ranks fourth in blocks (23)

90+ Scoring

Tulsa has scored 90 or more points 16 times in school history, including four times this season, and has a 14-2 mark in those games
This season, the Golden Hurricane earned a 96-64 win over Northwestern State for the fifth-most points in school history and the most since scoring 98 points against Houston on March 3, 2018. TU also had 95-51 win over Central Arkansas, a 92-77 win over Oral Roberts and a 92-57 win over South Carolina State.
TU has scored 90+ in two games during the 1980-81 campaign, twice last season (2021-22) and four times this year

13-3 Again and More

For the second straight season, Tulsa started out 13-3 after 16 games.
Other than last year, TU has not started out a campaign with a 13-3 mark.
This is the first time in program history that they've been 15-3

Out

Both junior Jessika Evans and freshman Ahrray Young will miss the remainder of the season after suffering knee injuries
In the five games before being sidelined Evans was coming on strong by averaging 10.8 points with three double-figure scoring games and grabbing 6.6 rebounds … in the first six games of the season, she was averaging just 3.5 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Ahrray averaged 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds, while tallying 44 assists and a team-high 30 steals

40+ Points in a Half

Tulsa has reached the 40-point plateau in the first half in eight of 26 games this season, including a season-best 55 points against South Carolina State
TU has scored 40 or more points in 17 of 52 halves this season

Four or More 3's

Tulsa players have scored four or more three-pointers in a game 15 times this season
Delanie Crawford had nine three's against Tulane, and four three's against both Duquesne and Central Arkansas ... Jessika Evans had five against #22 Kansas ... Maya Mayberry had seven three's against South Carolina State, five against Texas Southern, UCF and Tulane, and four trey's against Alcorn State, Arkansas, Central Arkansas, Tulane and Wichita State ... Temira Poindexter had five against SMU and four at East Carolina

Double Digits

Maya Mayberry has scored in double figures in 46 of 67 games at TU, while Temira Poindexter has scored double figures in 41 of 53 career contests

Double Digits by Halftime

Five Tulsa players have hit double digits by halftime a total of 25 times this season
Maddie Bittle has accomplished this against South Carolina State (11), Central Arkansas (10), Wichita State (13), Temple (11), Tulane (10) and #25 South Florida (12)
Delanie Crawford has done this against Duquesne (10), Prairie View A&M (10), Central Arkansas (13), Northwestern State (10), Cincinnati (10) and Tulane (21)
Jessika Evans has hit this mark against Duquesne (11)
Maya Mayberry has reached this feat against Alcorn State (14), South Carolina State (19), Northwestern State (13), Texas Southern (12) and Tulane (10)
Temira Poindexter has done this against Alcorn State (10), Oral Roberts (13), East Carolina (14), Houston (14), Tulane (13), #25 South Florida (10) and SMU (14)

20 or More

Maya Mayberry has tallied 12 20+ scoring games, including three this season, while Temira Poindexter has recorded 13 20+ scoring games, including nine this season, and Delanie Crawford had one 20+ scoring game this season against Tulane

Perfect at Home

Tulsa started out the season with a perfect 9-0 mark in the confines of the Donald W. Reynolds Center, dropping their only game at home against #25 South Florida (1-25-23)
TU had a 10 game winning streak at home, dating back to the last home contest of the 2021-22 season against Wichita State on Feb. 27, tying the school record for consecutive home wins set from Jan. 29, 2005 to Jan. 1, 2006
Tulsa posted a perfect 7-0 mark in non-conference home games, having met this mark only twice before, coming in the 2004 and 2005 seasons

Season High Shooting

Tulsa has had some solid shooting this season, including five games with a 49.0 field goal percentage or higher, four games with over a 40.0 three-point field goal percentage and eight games with over a 80.0 free throw percentage
TU's best field goal percentage on the season came against Central Arkansas (.590), their best three-point performance was against Central Arkansas (.577) and their best free throw percentage was against Cincinnati (.909)

Margin of Victory

Tulsa captured a 49-point win over Alcorn State in the season opener on Nov. 7, marking the fourth largest margin of victory in school history
TU also earned a 44-point win over Central Arkansas on Dec. 11, the sixth biggest margin of victory

Reynolds Center Records Broken

Tulsa has set some new Reynolds Center records this season, including ...
Most 3-point field goals made (15 vs. Central Arkansas - 12.11.22; Tulane (2.12.23)
Most 3-point field goals attempted (40 vs. Tulane - 2.12.23)
Highest field goal percentage (.590 vs. Central Arkansas - 12.11.22)
Fewest points allowed in one quarter (4 vs. Tulane (4th quarter) - 2.12.23)
Most 3-point field goals attempted combined (61; Tulsa 35, Northwestern State 26 - 12-19-22)

Ahrray Young Named The American Freshman of the Week Twice

Ahrray Young was named the American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week on December 5 and December 12

On the Roster

Tulsa returns seven players from last year's 17-11 and WNIT team, including three starters, while welcoming seven newcomers to this season's roster.
The Golden Hurricane has two super seniors (Maddie Bittle and Maya Mayberry), three juniors (Jessika Evans, Katia Gallegos and Katelyn Levings), four sophomores (Delanie Crawford, Lexie Foutch, Alyssa Parmer and Temira Poindexter) and five freshmen (Caroline Lyles, Cam Mathews, Hadley Periman, Chloe Williams and Ahrray Young)

Oklahomans

Tulsa's 14 member roster includes nine Oklahomans
The breakdown includes one freshman, four sophomores, two juniors and two seniors

Three Players Tabbed to Preseason Team

Temira Poindexter, Maddie Bittle and Maya Mayberry were named to the preseason all-conference teams. Poindexter was a first team selection, while Bittle and Mayberry were second team honorees.

Tulsa Picked Fourth in The American Preseason Coaches' Poll

In the American Athletic Conference coaches' poll, Tulsa was picked to finish fourth by the league's coaches.
The 2022-23 predicted order of finish was South Florida, Houston, SMU, Tulsa, Tulane and Memphis (tied for fifth), Temple, UCF, Cincinnati, Wichita State and East Carolina.

Her Freshman Season

Temira Poindexter concluded the 2021-22 season with five marks on the Tulsa Freshmen Single-Season Records list, ranking first in blocks (52), second in field goals made (131), third in scoring (344), fourth in scoring average (12.3) and fourth in free throw percentage (.796).

Most Wins Since

Tulsa's 17 wins during the 2021-22 campaign was the most in eight years, since posting an 18-14 record in the 2014-15 season
In that year, Tulsa also made the WNIT, winning one of two games
In the last 16 seasons, the 17 wins ties the second-most wins… Tulsa won 18 in 2014-15 and 17 games in 2012-13

Tulsa in The American Championship

In eight years, Tulsa has a 5-8 mark in The American Championship
TU earned wins in the first round in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022
The Golden Hurricane lost matches in the quarterfinals in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022, and lost in the first round in 2020 and 2021

Tulsa in the Postseason

Tulsa has made six postseason appearances
TU earned WNIT bids in 2004, 2005, 2015 and 2022
The Hurricane played in the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and 2013
Tulsa lost in the first round in 2004 (Memphis), 2005 (Texas A&M) and 2013 (Stanford), but went 1-1 in 2006 (W, North Carolina State; L, DePaul), 2015 (W, Missouri State; L, Eastern Michigan) and 2022 (W, North Texas; L, Wyoming)
The Hurricane has a 3-6 overall mark in postseason play

A Hurricane in Tulsa?

The Origination of The University of Tulsa nickname - Golden Hurricane - was created in 1922. A new football coach, Howard Archer came to town and inherited a slew of nicknames dating back to 1895. In the past, Tulsa had been named "Kendallites," "Presbyterians," "Tigers," "Orange and Black," "Tulsans," and of course, "Yellow Jackets." The team started working out in the fall with a new nickname "Yellow Jackets" which was apparently due to the fact that the team was wearing new black and yellow uniforms. The team opened the season and it was apparent that Tulsa was going to have a great year, and trying to seize some publicity for his team, Archer wanted to find a new nickname quickly. After a remark was made in practice one day about "roaring through opponents," and because of their new jersey colors, he thought of "Golden Tornadoes." But a check showed that Georgia Tech already had chosen that tag in 1917. From the tornado, he evolved meteorologically to the hurricane. A few days before the team left for a game against Texas A&M, Archer asked the squad to vote on the name, and thus "Golden Hurricane" was born.