Tampa, Fla. ? Facing a considerable size disadvantage, the Stetson women's basketball team (1-4) struggled all night to cope with hosts USF (3-2), falling to the Bulls 86-44 Tuesday evening at the Sun Dome. Freshman guard Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla./First Academy) scored all 13 of her points in the second half to lead the Hatters.
Junior center Ayesha Barkley (East Orange, N.J.) scored the first basket of the second half in the opening minute but USF then went on a 14-2 run that ended Stetson's comeback hopes. The Hatters failed to net another field goal until 13:10 remained and Barkley sank a short jumper in the paint off an assist from freshman forward Jessica Conner (Cocoa, Fla./Cocoa HS). Barkley scored eight of her 10 points after halftime. No other Stetson player made a field goal until Tierra Brown's three-pointer with 9:37 to play. Brown would heat up from there, reaching double figures in less than six minutes.
With five players 6'1” or taller to Stetson's one (Barkley), USF was able to control the paint on both ends of the floor en route to a 32-20 points-in-the-paint advantage and win the turnover battle 17-8. The Bulls scored 23 points off turnovers while the Hatters had four.
Conner came up with six points and nine rebounds for Stetson while adding in a pair of steals. The nine boards will help keep her in the top tier of rebounders in the Atlantic Sun Conference early in her rookie year.
Jessica Lawson led USF with 20 points while Shantia Grace added 18 and five steals, helped by four three-pointers. Porche Grant recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Caitlyn Mitryk (10 points) also reached double figures for the Bulls.
USF scored the game's first 17 points and never looked back, making five three-pointers in the first half as well using tall and talented post play to control the pace. Conner scored Stetson's first three field goals of the game. The Hatters struggled desperately to score throughout the first half, not cracking double digits in points for the game's first 15 minutes.
Stetson started to break out of its offensive funk late in the first half as senior guards Jamie Nesbit (Peoria, Ariz.) and Kellie Olson (Tucson, Ariz.) each sank three-pointers to draw the Hatters within 17 before USF extended the margin to 23 at the break, 41-18.
Grace led the Bulls in the first half, draining a trio of three-pointers on her way to 15 points before intermission. Lawson added 11 of her own while Conner had six points and six rebounds for the Hatters, who made just seven of 31 field goal attempts (22.6%) as a team.
Stetson will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to the court Tuesday in Gainesville against the Florida Gators. Game time is 7 p.m. Bill Topping will call the action on the Stetson Radio Network at www.gohatters.com.
