Saturday, January 25
Greenville, N.C.
4:00 p.m.
East Carolina University
10-10,2-6AAC
60
vs
63
South Florida
13-8,6-2AAC
1
2
3
4
F
South Fla.
19
8
15
21
63
East Carolina
17
13
18
12
60
South Florida Nabs Victory from Pirates with Late-Game Heroics, 63-60
January 25, 2025 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina women's basketball team led for greater than 30 minutes of game time and by 10 points with 6:53 to play, but perennial league favorite South Florida has that sterling reputation for a reason as they rose from the brink to win the game, 63-60, Vittoria Blasigh scoring the game-winning basket with 1.1 seconds left.
The Pirates (10-10, 2-6 AAC) played the game as perfectly as they could have hoped for the first three-plus quarters of the game. They built, then maintained a lead, growing it into double figures on multiple occasions. And they did so without one player carrying the brunt of the load—the team's first six shots were made by six different players. Khia Miller and Jayla Hearp did lead the team with 16 and 15 points, apiece, but their efforts were measured, spread throughout the contest.
That brought the game to the seven minute mark in the fourth and final quarter of action. Up by seven, the Pirates looked to their hometown hero, Amiya Joyner, who stepped into a three with confidence and drilled it for a 10-point margin. It was Joyner's second three of the season but came at the perfect time. It looked like it was finally ECU's moment—the Pirates are now 0-7 against the Bulls in the last six seasons—but come roaring down the other end of the court, Sammie Puisis drilled a three for South Florida and head coach Jose Fernandez called what proved to be a critical timeout with 6:38 remaining. That Puisis triple, her only one of the game, proved to be the bucket which started a 10-0 run over 3:03, culminating in Blasigh knocking down a tying jumper with 3:43 remaining.
The teams traded a bucket for a pair of free throws and right at the dawn of the final minute of the game Mama Dembele—who gave ECU issues with her driving all game—jumped a Miller pass and lead a break which ended in a Carla Brito basket for the win.
After a missed shot and a tremendous defensive stand, the Pirates got another chance and Jayla Hearp delivered, drilling a left-wing three for the lead with just 4.1 remaining in the contest. It was her fourth made three of the game after being held without a field goal last time out.
It probably should have been the winner in a perfect world, alas, Blasigh got the ball going downhill on the left side, looped around the baseline for a right-handed reverse layup for the win with 1.1 to play.
The ball came to the hands of Joyner on the final possession but her heavily contested effort did not go. A technical foul assessed in the aftermath of the final play resulted in two free throws for Puisis with no time on the clock, resulting in the final three-point margin.
Up Next
The Pirates will be back at home on Wednesday as they host Wichita State for a 6 p.m. tip.
The Pirates (10-10, 2-6 AAC) played the game as perfectly as they could have hoped for the first three-plus quarters of the game. They built, then maintained a lead, growing it into double figures on multiple occasions. And they did so without one player carrying the brunt of the load—the team's first six shots were made by six different players. Khia Miller and Jayla Hearp did lead the team with 16 and 15 points, apiece, but their efforts were measured, spread throughout the contest.
That brought the game to the seven minute mark in the fourth and final quarter of action. Up by seven, the Pirates looked to their hometown hero, Amiya Joyner, who stepped into a three with confidence and drilled it for a 10-point margin. It was Joyner's second three of the season but came at the perfect time. It looked like it was finally ECU's moment—the Pirates are now 0-7 against the Bulls in the last six seasons—but come roaring down the other end of the court, Sammie Puisis drilled a three for South Florida and head coach Jose Fernandez called what proved to be a critical timeout with 6:38 remaining. That Puisis triple, her only one of the game, proved to be the bucket which started a 10-0 run over 3:03, culminating in Blasigh knocking down a tying jumper with 3:43 remaining.
The teams traded a bucket for a pair of free throws and right at the dawn of the final minute of the game Mama Dembele—who gave ECU issues with her driving all game—jumped a Miller pass and lead a break which ended in a Carla Brito basket for the win.
After a missed shot and a tremendous defensive stand, the Pirates got another chance and Jayla Hearp delivered, drilling a left-wing three for the lead with just 4.1 remaining in the contest. It was her fourth made three of the game after being held without a field goal last time out.
It probably should have been the winner in a perfect world, alas, Blasigh got the ball going downhill on the left side, looped around the baseline for a right-handed reverse layup for the win with 1.1 to play.
The ball came to the hands of Joyner on the final possession but her heavily contested effort did not go. A technical foul assessed in the aftermath of the final play resulted in two free throws for Puisis with no time on the clock, resulting in the final three-point margin.
Up Next
The Pirates will be back at home on Wednesday as they host Wichita State for a 6 p.m. tip.
Team Stats
USF
ECU
FG%
.479
.400
3FG%
.333
.333
FT%
.867
.600
RB
25
28
TO
17
12
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's BasketballGuard
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