Bulls Ranked 20th

TAMPA, FLA. – The USF women’s basketball team added yet another ranking to its long preseason tally Tuesday when the Bulls were ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press Poll.

Guard Courtney Williams (10) talks with head coach Jose Fernandez during a stop in play against the Louisville Cardinals during the first half in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournamentat USF Sun Dome. (photo  Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports)

The No. 20 ranking comes just days after being ranked No. 19 in the preseason WBCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, marking the program’s first-ever preseason rankings and highest-ever ranking in either poll for the program, which is entering its 16^th season under Head Coach Jose Fernandez.

USF tips off the 2015-16 campaign on Friday, Nov. 13 in the Sun Dome with a match-up vs. Jacksonville slated for a 6:00 p.m. tip. USF women’s basketball single game tickets are $10 for all games, except for the January 10^th game versus the defending National Champion UConn Huskies when they will be priced at $17. Tickets can be purchased by visiting USFBullsTix.com, calling 1-800-GoBulls or visiting the Gate A ticket office at the USF Sun Dome Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The AP Poll was topped by defending American Athletic Conference champion UConn for the 11^th time. The Bulls and three-time defending NCAA champion UConn were the only American Athletic Conference teams ranked in the poll.

USF’s 2015-16 schedule includes non-conference match-ups vs. preseason No. 8 Louisville, No. 11 Mississippi State and No. 25 Chattanooga, the Bulls will play the Mocs in the Sun Dome on Dec. 13. The Bulls also have a pair of conference match-ups with UCon, including a home date on Jan. 10, giving USF five scheduled games vs. preseason AP Top 25 teams.

USF was ranked as high as No. 15 in preseason rankings by national magazines and outlets and was voted second in the preseason American Conference Coaches Poll. USF has also appeared in preseason top 25 polls by the Sporting News (No. 15), CollegeSportsMadness.com (No. 18), Lindy’s Sports (No. 22), ESPN (No. 21) and Athlon (No. 23).

USF is led by preseason first-team American All-Conference selections in senior guard Courtney Williams (Folkston, Ga.) and senior forward Alisia Jenkins (Statesboro, Ga.). Williams earned her second straight all-conference first-team selection last year after leading the conference in scoring at 20.3 ppg and finishing among the top 11 conference leaders in 10 categories. Jenkins was a second-team all-conference pick last year after leading the league in rebounding (11.3 rpg) and averaging a double-double with 12.8 ppg.

Jose Fernandez’s 2015 women’s basketball team returns all five starters, including All-American Candidate Courtney Williams, from a team that posted a 27-8 (15-3 American) record in 2014-15 and finished the season in the top 25 rankings. The squad finished second behind eventual NCAA champion UConn in the American Athletic Conference and made an exciting NCAA Tournament run that saw USF top LSU in front of 5,560 fans in the Sun Dome in the NCAA regional round.

In 2015-16, the Bulls will be hosting their toughest schedule yet, including the opening rounds of the Preseason WNIT, along with perennial powers Penn State, Chattanooga, Oklahoma State and UConn making trips to Tampa. Season tickets, starting at just $65, are available for purchase online at USFBullsTix.com, by phone at 1-800-GoBulls or in person at the Gate B ticket office of the Sun Dome, with single game tickets going on sale in late September.

USF has made 11 postseason tournament appearances and had three NCAA Tournament berths in Head Coach Jose Fernandez’s 15 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to six 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 260 games.