USF Athletics

Bulls to Honor Trailblazing Seniors on Saturday

February 23, 2018

MATCHUP: Cincinnati (17-10, 9-5) at No. 17 USF (23-5, 12-2)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Feb. 24/5 p.m.
LOCATION: Sun Dome
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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, FEB. 23, 2018 – The Sun Dome is the place to be on Saturday to watch the most successful senior class in USF women's basketball history possibly suit up at home for the final time.

Get to your seats early to see the program honor Maria Jespersen and Laia Flores prior to the Bulls' 5 p.m. regular season home finale against Cincinnati.

"Our program wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for having those two quality young ladies that have been so successful in the classroom, in the community and on the basketball court," head coach Jose Fernandez said.

Since heading to USF from Denmark and Spain, Jespersen and Flores have helped build the 17th-ranked program into a winning force on the national scene. They're on pace to become the first-ever class in USF history to make four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and another huge feat is on the horizon.

Beating the Bearcats on Saturday would give this senior class 99 career victories, which would mark a new milestone in USF history.

"We just have to go get the win," Jespersen said.

Jespersen played an increasing role in USF's success the past three seasons and she's put it all together as a senior. The fantastic forward from Arhus, Denmark leads the conference with 16 double-doubles this season and she's close to a double-double average with 18.3 points and a conference-leading 9.8 rebounds per game.

Jespersen needs 28 more rebounds to move into a tie for fifth on USF's career chart with Jessica Lawson (863) and she'll be ready to crash the boards on a bittersweet Saturday at the Sun Dome.

"It's going to be really emotional. I've been so happy playing here for four years," Jespersen said. "The atmosphere in the arena is amazing and it's going to be hard to know that (it could be) the last time we play in that gym."

Like Jespersen, Flores has given Bulls fans a ton to cheer about during her run at the Sun Dome. Using her smooth dribbling skills and laser court vision, the productive point guard set USF's season assists record with 200 in 2016-17.

Flores is 22 more dishes away from stacking up her second straight 200-assist season and she's handed out the ball with care as a senior, ranking fourth nationally with an assist-turnover ratio of plus-3.79.

The Mataro, Spain native leads the conference with 6.4 assists per game and Flores is primed for another an impressive performance Saturday with her parents, Francesc and Margarita, in attendance.

"I'm really excited," Flores said. "It's kind of emotional after four years here at USF. I've been through a lot and I'm definitely going to miss it."

Fernandez describes his upcoming fond USF farewell to Jespersen and Flores as "tough," but he'll always have a place in his heart for these two unforgettable Bulls.

"When you talk to both of them, they'll tell you this was their dream – to come to the United States, go to school, learn a new culture and play basketball at the highest level," Fernandez said. "It's great to hear that they talk about their friendships, what they've learned and how they've grown. They were totally different when they arrived here. They came in as young girls and now they're leaving as grown women, and that's great to see."

Notable

• TOP-25 BULLS: USF is up No. 17 in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll and ranks No. 18 in the AP Top 25.
• HOME SUCCESS: With a win on Saturday, USF would post only the program's second one-loss season home stand. The Bulls are 11-1 at home this season and went 15-1 at the Sun Dome in 2015-16.
• LAKSA FROM LONG RANGE: Junior sharpshooter Kitija Laksa (Riga, Latvia) has matched her own single-season high of 101 made three-pointers. Laksa is one of only six players nationally to make more than 100 and she needs only 16 more to tie Janae Stokes for the USF season record of 117 set in 2008-09. The NCAA season three-pointer record is 124.

 
About USF Women's Basketball
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USF notched its sixth consecutive 20-win season in an 84-65 romp of No. 13 Ohio State. This is the ninth 20-win season in program history and head coach Jose Fernandez has been at the helm for all nine 20-win seasons. The 2014-15 team holds the record for most wins in a season (27).
 
USF has made 13 postseason tournament appearances and had five NCAA Tournament berths in Head Coach Jose Fernandez's 17 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to eight 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 300 games.