USF Women's Basketball

Interim head coach Michele Woods-Baxter says her 17 years of winning on Jose Fernandez's staff prepared her for the moment he decided to move on two weeks ago. USF opens the season Monday against FIU.

The 53-year-old Fernandez spent the past 25 seasons leading the women’s team at the University of South Florida.

Fernandez, who spent 25 years leading the Bulls and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, reportedly will be named head coach of the Dallas Wings. Michele Woods-Baxter will take over in the interim.

The Bulls trailed by one after the first quarter, but the Volunteers took control with a 29-9 run before halftime to easily advance in the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

The Bulls will travel to Columbus, Ohio, as a No. 12 seed to face the fifth-seeded Volunteers on Friday as part of the Birmingham 1 region. The NCAA Women's Final Four is slated for April 4-6 in Tampa.

The Bulls defeated Rice 69-62 in the conference title game, earning an automatic bid to the NCAAs. The Women's Final Four is April 4-6 at Amalie Arena.

South Florida (27-7) entered looking for its first berth in the Sweet 16, but after a feisty start, couldn't hang with the Gamecocks.

The Bulls (27-6) rallied several times, including from 47-36 down in regulation to tie their mark for wins in a season.

If USF wins, they'll likely face undefeated, defending national champion South Carolina.

USF twice cut the deficit to nine in the second half, but they couldn’t get any closer.

USF received a ninth seed in the Greensboro region and will play the eighth seed University of Miami in Columbia, SC, Friday.

Fernandez was elevated from recruiting coordinator to head coach in November 2000 after just months at USF.