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Healthier USF women's lineup tops Memphis

 
Published Feb. 22, 2016

TAMPA — For the better part of Sunday's 97-82 triumph against Memphis, the 19th-ranked USF women showed how formidable they can be with a full complement of players.

Problem was, that complement didn't remain full all 40 minutes.

Five Bulls, including previously hobbled sophomore Laura Ferreira, scored in double figures as USF (19-7, 12-3 American Athletic Conference) atoned for last month's overtime defeat to the Tigers (16-11, 10-6). Ferreira, out the previous six games with a torn plantar fascia, hit three first-half 3-pointers and finished with 19.

"I think (Ferreira's) performance speaks for itself," coach Jose Fernandez said. "(Saturday) was the first day that she got up and down the floor a little bit, and for her to play 32 minutes, we needed every one of those minutes from her."

Replacing Ferreira on the shelf, at least in Sunday's latter stage, was 6-foot freshman Kitija Laksa (13 points), who rolled her right ankle while driving to the basket with 5:12 remaining and had to be assisted off the Sun Dome floor.

Fernandez didn't immediately know Laksa's short-term prognosis. Counter-balancing her injury is the fact senior Alisia Jenkins (20 points, 17 rebounds) is nearing full strength from the nagging bone bruise on her left ankle.

"We'll see how (Laksa) is, and I think Jenkins is getting there. She had a special day," Fernandez said. "We're a different team when we've got everybody healthy."