Recap and highlights: South Florida beats Washington State in NCAA Tournament

March 21, 2021 Updated Sun., March 21, 2021 at 9:37 p.m.

South Florida guard Sydni Harvey, left, and center Shae Leverett fight for the ball against Washington State guard Krystal Leger-Walker during the women’s NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Elena Tsineke scored 18 points, including the go-ahead basket with 1:32 remaining, to help South Florida to a 57-53 win over Washington State in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Sunday night in Austin, Texas.

Tsineke’s driving shot, which came soon after a 3-pointer by Washington State’s Charlisse Leger-Walker, gave the eighth-seeded Bulls (19-3) a 54-53 lead.

The ninth-seeded Cougars (12-12) had several chances to overtake South Florida, but Leger-Walker missed two driving shots and was called for traveling, all during the final 1:07. The Bulls hit free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Leger-Walker, an all-Pac-12 selection and the league’s freshman of the year, matched Tsineke’s 18 points but converted only 4 of 18 field goal attempts, including 2 of 10 3-pointers.

Johanna Teder supported Leger-Walker with 16 points.

South Florida converted 11 of 16 shots in the second quarter – including its first six – to take a 38-29 halftime lead. The Bulls needed that boost because they hit 5 of 21 shots in the first quarter.

Tsineke finished the half with 12 points. Leger-Walker scored 11 in the half but was less efficient than Tsineke.

Leger-Walker, well guarded by South Florida, hit 2 of 8 shots but made all six of her free throws.

Washington State pulled even by the end of the third quarter, not by shooting well but by limiting South Florida to three baskets and seven points. — Associated Press

NCAA Championships / YouTube

First quarter

4:49 – WSU 9, USF 6: Johanna Teder has five points and the Cougars have the lead on the Bulls midway through the quarter.

Teder connected on the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer. Krystal Leger-Walker also hit a 3 for WSU as it jumped out to a 6-0 lead.

You get a 3 and you get a 3 🙌 @WSUCougarWBB #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/BXUBUxEwzG
— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) March 22, 2021

Sydni Harvey has four points to lead South Florida.

.@WSUCougarWBB leads 9-6 midway through the first, but it feels like it should be more than that, as USF is 2-for-10 from the field and 0-for-3 from long range. @SpokesmanSports
— Jim Allen (@srjimallen) March 22, 2021

WSU 15, USF 13: Cougars lead by 2 after both teams shot the ball poorly in the opening quarter.

Washington State shot 25% and made 2 of 7 3-pointers.

South Florida is at 23.8% shooting and has made only 1 of 5 3s.

Johanna Teder’s five points leads WSU. Charlisse Leger-Walker has four points.

Sydni Harvey has four points to lead the Bulls.

After one quarter, @WSUCougarWBB leads South Florida 15-13. Cougars are only 4-for-16 from the floor, but they’ve locked down USF (5-for-21). Teder has 5 and Charlisse Leger-Walker has 4 points for the Cougs. @SpokesmanSports
— Jim Allen (@srjimallen) March 22, 2021

Second quarter

6:24 – USF 27, WSU 19: The Bulls make their first six shots to start the quarter and lead by 8.

on a roll @USFWBB #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/mMTU6lpSrj
— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) March 22, 2021

Ethridge calls timeout, and @WSUCougarWBB certainly needs one. USF is on a 9-0 run in the last 1 minute and 50 seconds. Cougs getting hurt by the Bulls’ quickness on the drive. @SpokesmanSports
— Jim Allen (@srjimallen) March 22, 2021

Halftime

USF 38, WSU 29: Elena Tsineke has 12 points and the Bulls used a big second quarter to take a nine-point halftime lead on the Cougars.

South Florida made its first six shots of the second quarter and used a 14-3 run to build a 10-point lead midway through the period. The Bulls got the lead to as large as 12 and won outscored the Cougs 25-14 in the quarter.

Charlisse Leger-Walker leads Washington State with 11 points on 2-of-8 shooting. The Cougars are shooting just 32.0% and have made 4 of 12 3-pointers.

WSU has committed eight turnovers which USF has turned into 12 points. The Bulls also hold a 20-4 edge in paint points.

Johanna Teder has added five points for Washington State. Emma Nankervis has four.

Sydni Harvey has eight points for South Florida. The Bulls shot 68.8% in the second quarter and made three 3-pointers.

Two stats really standing out right now: @WSUCougarWBB has zero points off turnovers while USF has 12. But what really hurts is that the Cougars are being outscored 20-4 in the paint, although WSU is 9-for-10 from the line as USF is fouling. @SpokesmanSports
— Jim Allen (@srjimallen) March 22, 2021

Third quarter

5:20 – USF 39, WSU 38: A dominant start to the third quarter has the Cougars within one of the Bulls.

Washington State has outscored South Florida 9-1 in the period and are on a 14-3 run since late in the second quarter.

Charlisse Leger-Walker has 13 points to lead WSU. The freshman is 8 of 8 from the free-throw line.

And now a 3 from Teder to bring @WSUCougarWBB within one, 39-38 and bringing on a USF timeout with 5:20 left in the third. @SpokesmanSports
— Jim Allen (@srjimallen) March 22, 2021

WSU 45, USF 45: The Cougars and Bulls head into third quarter tied after WSU held USF to seven points in the third quarter.

South Florida made just 25% of its shots in the quarter as WSU erased a nine-point halftime deficit.

Charlisse Leger-Walker has 15 points to lead WSU. Johanna Teder has added 13 points on 3 of 7 from 3-point range.

Elena Tsineke’s 12 points leads USF. Tsineke did not score in the quarter, missing five shots.

Fourth quarter

5:18 – USF 50, WSU 47: Low scoring-start to the quarter as the Bulls lead by three.

Elisa Pinzan made a 3-pointer for the Bulls to break a 45-45 tie. She has 10 points with two made 3s.

WSU center Bella Murekatete scored to pull the Cougs within one. Murekatete has six points and eight rebounds.

Take notes 📝 court vision‼️ @WSUCougarWBB #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/O9yZHfTezr
— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) March 22, 2021

Elena Tsineke answered for USF with a jumper and she now has 14 points to lead the Bulls.

1:37 – WSU 53, USF 52: Charlisse Leger-Walker makes a 3-pointer and the Cougs lead by one.

0:25 – USF 56, WSU 53: Elena Tsineke’s layup gave the Bulls the lead and two free throws from Elisa Pinzan have them up three on the Cougs.

Pregame

Here is the starting line up for tonight’s #ncaaW Tournament

0⃣4⃣ @KlegerWalker
0⃣5⃣ @Char_legerwalks
1⃣5⃣ Ula Motuga
2⃣1⃣ @johannaeliise
5⃣5⃣ @BellaMurekatete

Tune into ESPN 2 NOW for Coug Basketball!!!#GoCougs | #CougsMarchOn pic.twitter.com/pu3e4cKLM4
— WSU Cougar Women’s 🏀 (@WSUCougarWBB) March 22, 2021

Brought that Pullman vibe to Texas#GoCougs | #CougsMarchOn pic.twitter.com/KW1HgIzAY7
— WSU Cougar Women’s 🏀 (@WSUCougarWBB) March 21, 2021

Individual leaders

POINTS	PPG	FG%	FT%
Elena Tsineke (USF)	12.9	39.1	86.7
Charlisse Leger-Walker (WSU)	18.9	35.9	77.2

REBOUNDS	RPG	DRPG	ORPG
Bethy Mununga (USF)	13.2	8.7	4.5
Ula Motuga (WSU)	6.7	4.7	2.1

ASSISTS	APG	TOPG	MPG
Elisa Pinzan (USF)	6.7	2.2	35.2
Krystal Leger-Walker (WSU)	4.6	3.7	36.6

Team Stats

	USF	WSU
Points	65.7	63.7
Points allowed	54.4	63.7
Field goal pct.	37.0	38.8
Rebounds	44.0	37.1
Assists	15.6	14.2
Blocks	3.8	4.0
Steals	6.5	8.0
Streak	Won 3	Lost 1