HARTFORD, Conn. – USF overcame a slow start and beat Rutgers 42-39 in the Second Round of the BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Championship presented by American Eagle Outfitters held at the XL Center.
The Bulls (21-9) began the game 1-of-16 from the field and trailed 14-3 midway through the first half. USF responded and cut the advantage to one 19-18 at halftime.
In the second half, neither team took control of the game until the final minutes. USF held its first lead of the game (40-39) with 1:19 left following a free throw by Andrea Smith. Smith finished with a game-high 17 points, including the 1,000th point of her career.
Monique Oliver led Rutgers (16-14) with 15 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
With the win the No. 8 seed USF advances to play No. 1 seed Notre Dame on Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m., ET. The game will be televised on ESPNU. Earlier this year the Bulls lost to Notre Dame 75-71 in overtime on Jan. 8.
