TAMPA, Fla. — Sammie Puisis played a pivotal role in South Florida’s 65-56 triumph over ninth-ranked Duke, scoring nine of her 23 points in the critical final seven minutes of the game.

L’or Mputu contributed a solid performance for the Bulls with 17 points and 11 rebounds. South Florida led by as much as 23 points during the first half, showcasing an impressive defense and offensive efficiency. Duke, however, fought back and narrowed the gap to 42-39 after Taina Mair hit a 3-pointer at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Vittoria Blasigh and Carla Brito both added ten points each to support the Bulls’ effort.

Toby Fournier was the top performer for Duke, scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds. The Blue Devils struggled early, finishing the first quarter with a 20-6 deficit. After trailing by 33-10, they managed to score the last five points of the first half and started the third quarter strong, shrinking the deficit to 36-24. Going into the fourth, Reigan Richardson’s three-point play and Mair’s pair of free throws helped bring the score to 42-36, giving hope for a possible comeback.

Noteworthy Observations

Duke never held a lead in the match, having missed five of their first seven shots while committing three turnovers in the opening minutes, which allowed South Florida to establish a quick 20-4 advantage. The Bulls improved their home record to 7-1, their only loss being against Vanderbilt. With this victory, they marked their first win against a ranked opponent since defeating Arkansas in December 2022.

Key Statistics

Puisis displayed exceptional shooting accuracy, knocking down six of nine attempts from the field, including all three of her three-point shots. She also excelled at the foul line, converting all eight of her attempts. In contrast, Duke struggled with their shooting, hitting just 23.5 percent from beyond the arc (4-17) and 38.9 percent overall.

Crucial Moment

As Duke looked poised to make another late-game surge, Puisis responded with a long, uncontested three-pointer, extending USF’s lead to 60-48 with just over two minutes remaining in the contest, effectively sealing the victory.

Looking Ahead

Duke is set to continue their Atlantic Coast Conference schedule against Boston College on January 2. Meanwhile, South Florida will host Charlotte in their American Athletic Conference opener on January 1.