Last season did not go as expected for the USF women's basketball team, finishing fifth in the conference.
of Bull They are using the offseason to prepare themselves and regain the glory of the past few years. The new additions include well-rounded contributors, scoring options, and size at the power forward and center positions.
Here are some new players who can help USF regain the AAC title.
Bidirectional transfer
USF's visit to the transfer portal resulted in the signings of forward Ines Piper and point guard Mama Dembele. The two graduate students will support the Bulls team as they look to improve. both finish.
Piper began his collegiate career at Northwest Florida State University, where he won the NCJAA National Championship in 2021. Piper, a 6-foot Paris native, spent the past two seasons at Temple, using his length and athleticism to become an effective two-way player.
Offensively, Piper averaged 6.8 points per game last season and had nine games in double figures. Defensively, he averaged one block and one steal per game, helping build the AAC's third-highest scoring defense.
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Dembele comes to the Bulls after a successful season at Missouri State. The Spanish point guard averaged 10.2 points and 6.5 assists per game, ranking sixth in the nation.
USF finished last in the AAC in steals, and Dembele should help contribute to that rank. The former Tiger averages 3.3 stolen bases per game, which also ranks sixth in the nation.
Dembele's versatility saw him finish as the only player in the country with at least 150 assists and 75 steals. She also earned All-SEC Defensive Team selection for the 2023-2024 season.
attack spark plug
Last season, the Bulls finished 191st in offensive scoring due to a lack of scoring ability. Freshmen Amy Thompson and Raina Tomasikka will provide assists with a much-needed scoring punch.
Thompson, a combo guard, finished his high school career in Minnesota as a prolific scorer. She scored 25.8 points per game, including three 40-point points.
Thompson also had an impressive 40% 3-point success rate. USF finished 198th in 3-point percentage last season, down from 35th the year before. With the return of Sammy Puisis, one of the top shooters in the country, the Bulls are poised to excel from beyond the arc next season.
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Tomasikka, a freshman wing player, brings his versatile scoring ability to Tampa. Women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez praised the Bulgarian's offensive ability on the day of the signing.
“[Tomasicka] He is a natural scorer and can play multiple positions for us,” Fernandes said. press release. “She has great length and size for a guard and the ability to get past smaller defenders and score.”
Tomasichka showed off her scoring ability at the 2022 FIBA U18 Women's European Championship. She averaged 17.9 points per game and shot an impressive 94 percent from the free throw line.
front court depth
Size is one skill that cannot be taught in basketball. The Bulls added big bodies in Jennifer Silva, Yana Karamfilova, and Fatu Diakité.
Silva, a junior center, transferred from JUCO South Plains College and is averaging 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She also dominated in the paint defensively, recording at least three blocks 10 times last season.
Silva also has potential as a stretch five. The 6-foot-5 Brazilian native shot 37 percent from three in recent seasons, a mark that would have led the Bulls last season.
Freshman forward Callum Firowa adds versatile scoring option to the frontcourt.
In high school, Karamfilova played for the BC Beloe Stara Zagora club, averaging 13.5 points per game. The 6-foot-2 Bulgarian tallied 11 double-digit points for the club three times and scored 20 or more points three times for the club last season.
Diakité, a sophomore forward who began his playing career at Niagra Prep at age 16, is something of a project player for USF. Fernandes didn't mind Diaquite's late start. Fernandes is excited to work with the 6-foot-3 Ivorian player.
“Her best basketball is yet to come,” Fernandez said. press release.
Diakite transfers from Charlotte after a freshman season in which he saw limited playing time. She showed promise as a rim protector, felling two or more blocks three times.
The Bulls only return six players from last season's team. Chemistry will be a focus for Fernandez and the Bulls as they look to regain AAC dominance.