CHAMP CENTRAL
BOX SCORE
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QUOTES
HIGHLIGHTS
PHOTO GALLERY
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Courtney Williams scored 20 of her game-high 22 points in the second half to send No. 2-seeded USF to the American Athletic Conference Championship final with a 64-46 win against No. 3-seeded Temple Sunday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The win for USF sets up a rematch of last year’s American Athletic Conference final as the Bulls meet top-ranked and top-seeded UConn for the title. The championship game will take place Monday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
In a game that featured eight ties and eight lead changes, Williams’ second-half performance helped USF pull away from what was a tie game with 2:46 left in the third quarter. Her pullup jumper tied the game at 39-39, and she hit a pair of free throws with 1:50 left in the period to give USF a lead it would not relinquish.
Williams, The American’s leading scorer entering the game (20.3 ppg), was limited to two first-half points as the Bulls leaned on the play of guard Shalethia Stringfield, who had 12 in the first 20 minutes. Stringfield, The American’s Sixth Player of the Year, was making her fourth start of the season and responded with 20 points and a career-high 13 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.
Temple (20-11), was led by Tanaya Atkinson, who finished with 17 points to lead the Owls in scoring for the third consecutive game.
USF dropped both meetings with UConn this season, falling 75-59 in Tampa Jan. 10 and 79-59 in Storrs, Connecticut, Feb. 29. UConn was an 84-70 winner against the Bulls in last year’s American Athletic Conference Championship final.