Interim head coach Michele Woods-Baxter leads USF to an 81-56 victory over Florida International University for her first career win at USF at the Yuengling Center. 

Graduate forward L’or Mputu filled that stat sheet, leading the team in points and rebounds with 20 and 12, respectively. 

Graduate guard Edyn Battle put up 17 points and seven rebounds in the Bulls’ debut. Battle transferred from Jacksonville University, where she was selected to the 2024-25 All-ASUN First Team.  

“I love this group. I think we’re a great group, we’re super family oriented, and we know we’ve been through a lot already, and just sticking together and staying together, and we’ll be successful,” Battle said. 

Preseason American Athletic Conference Player of the Year selection, Carla Britto, missed the season opener due to a lower-body injury that occurred during practice.

“She’s just day-to-day. We had a scrimmage, she tweaked something a little bit, so we just didn’t really want to push it because, as you know, we got some crazy game coming up down the road,” Woods-Baxter said. 

The Lady Bulls take on the Long Island University Sharks at the Yuengling Center on Nov. 7.