USF point guard Elisa Pinzan honored by American Athletic Conference

USF junior point guard Elisa Pinzan, who came one assist shy of a triple double in the Bulls’ 67-63 overtime upset Saturday of then-No. 6 Mississippi State, has been named American Athletic Conference women’s player of the week.

Pinzan, who played 40 of the game’s 45 minutes, finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists as USF (2-1) earned the program’s first triumph against a top-10 opponent.

An Italy native, Pinzan had a critical offensive rebound (of her own miss) that led to a pair of Bethy Mununga free throws with 29 seconds to play in overtime. She then sank two of her own with five seconds remaining to seal the outcome.

Four nights before, she had a team-best six assists as the Bulls took then-No. 4 Baylor to the brink before losing, 67-62.

USF (2-1) earned 59 points in the latest Associated Press women’s poll released Monday, enough for 26th place. Teams are awarded one point for a 25th-place vote, two for 24th and so on.