Bull-ish on South Florida for 2018–19
Last season, South Florida finished the season with 26 wins, earning a six-seed in the NCAA tournament. Ranked 22nd in the AP preseason poll and picked to finish second in the American Athletic Conference (behind Connecticut), the Bulls are expected to post another impressive season. Leadership from returning seniors Kitija Laksa and Laura Ferreira, and a six-member freshman class with extensive international experience have them poised to do so.
Laksa returns better than ever for her senior season
Kitija Laksa will likely be the headliner this season for the Bulls. The senior from Latvia has already picked up a collection of preseason honors, including unanimous selection to the preseason AAC First Team and a third-team preseason All American nod from Lindy’s Sports. Last season, Laksa started all 34 games for South Florida, averaging 21.1 points per game.
Laksa returned to campus for the start of her senior season fresh off an appearance in the FIBA World Cup, where she played against the best players in the world. Latvia’s World Cup run ended with a loss to the United States, in which Laksa contributed 12 points against the eventual gold medalists.
Thanks to her World Cup experience and a productive offseason, expect Laksa to be better than ever for the Bulls this season. “Every offseason [Kitija Laksa] has improved a facet of her game,” said Head Coach Jose Fernandez. “This year she’s committed to guarding, creating off the bounce, and getting to the line more.”
“Every offseason [Kitija Laksa] has improved a facet of her game.” -Coach Jose Fernandez
The commitment to getting to the free throw line more is particularly notable. Laksa was the best free throw shooter in the country last year among both men’s and women’s DI basketball players, shooting 96.5 percent. She is already an efficient shooter, scoring 1.09 points per scoring attempt including when fouled (84th percentile). If she can increase her trips to the line, where she is all but automatic, she will likely be among the most efficient scorers in the country.
In addition to Laksa, the Bulls return Laura Ferreira, who started all 34 games and averaged 10.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season. Tamara Henshaw and Alyssa Rader, who each started approximately half of South Florida’s games last season, return for their junior year as well.
Impressive freshman squad, with a wealth of international experience
Coach Fernandez has also added six freshmen to this year’s roster, four of whom hail from overseas where they played on various club teams and in FIBA world championships. Two-thirds of the freshman class having international experience is certainly an advantage for the Bulls.
“They definitely have more experience than Americans often do against high-level competition,” noted Coach Fernandez. He also added, “They’re coming in seasoned. All of them played on high level club teams, with and against older athletes.”
After graduating two seniors who were staples in the starting lineup, the freshmen will have an immediate impact for South Florida. Fernandez noted that he plans to start both Syndi Harvey and Beatriz Jordao.
Harvey, a three-star recruit out of Tennessee, was ranked the 27th-best point guard in this year’s recruiting class. Fernandez has been impressed with her “great court vision” during both practice and two secret scrimmages ahead of the season’s official start.
Jordao is among those players with international experience. The 6–3 center from Portugal particularly impressed in the FIBA U-20 Women’s European Championship, averaging 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Coach Fernandez noted that she is so skilled facing the basket, but also “with her back to the basket, scoring off either shoulder.”
South Florida tips off its regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The opener will be an early test for the Bulls, who will play on the road against the reigning Big Ten champions Ohio State. Their first game is one of many non-conference tests before heading into conference play, where they’ll look to finally hand UConn their first AAC loss since joining the conference.
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