Even after getting snubbed by the NCAA Tournament selection committee, the USF Bulls' women team hasn't quit. Now they're in the final four of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) with a chance to make history.
The Bulls knocked off Mississippi State 60-58 in Starkville, Miss., Sunday on Courtney Williams' buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
“Coach (Jose Fernandez) drew up the ball where I circled around and he just told me, ‘You’ve got 4 seconds to score,’ so I took the 4 seconds and I did my best,” Williams told GoUSFBulls.com. “I knew I had to score or we were going to lose, so I had to be confident.”
Williams, a sophomore, scored 13 points. The Bulls were led by Shalethia Stringfield, who scored a career-high 20 points and added five steals, five assists and four rebounds.
USF, which took the WNIT title in 2009, could become the first program to ever win the tournament twice. The Bulls (23-12) play the winner of Monday night's quarterfinal match-up in Ohio between Rutgers and Bowling Green. The semifinal will take place either April 2 or 3 at a location that will be announced after tonight's game.
The other semifinal will see South Dakota State take on the winner of tonight's Washington and UTEP game. South Dakota State topped Indiana 76-64 Sunday.
You can see highlights from the Bulls' win here.
