TAMPA — On a team led by seniors, freshman Jasmine Wynne stepped up with a huge night Saturday, scoring four of her career-high 26 in overtime and leading USF to an 88-81 victory over Florida Gulf Coast in the second round of the Women's NIT.
USF (23-10) nearly made an early WNIT exit at the Eagles' hands for the second year in a row. After Wynne gave the Bulls the lead with 15 seconds left in regulation, Adrianne McNally of FGCU (26-5) tied the score at 79 on a layup with two seconds left to force overtime.
Wynne shot 10-for-16 and had the first four points in overtime for the Bulls, who trailed by 12 in the first half before an announced crowd of 812.
"She's our future," coach Jose Fernandez said of Wynne. "I think the key was Brittany Denson and Jessica Lawson, the way they finished inside and rebounded, but down the stretch, we put the ball in (Wynne's) hands."
Denson and Lawson both had double doubles; Lawson had 19 points and 15 rebounds and Denson totaled 18 and 12. USF outrebounded FGCU 46-26, helping offset the 13 3-pointers the Eagles hit. FGCU had won 17 straight.
The third round will be in the Sun Dome, likely Wednesday or Thursday night, and the Bulls will face the winner of today's Mississippi-Murray State game.
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