TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — The South Florida Bulls, propelled by a dominant performance in the paint and a game-high 23 points from Edyn Battle, overcame a strong start from the Long Island Sharks to secure a 79-72 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Friday night at the Sun Dome.

A crowd of 2,302 watched as the Bulls improved their early-season record to 2-0, while the Sharks evened their mark at 1-1.

Long Island came out aggressively, establishing an early lead by outpacing South Florida 25-19 in a high-scoring first quarter. The Sharks’ offense, however, cooled considerably as the game progressed. After their 17-point second quarter, their output diminished to 18 points in the third and just 12 in the final period.

South Florida, conversely, found a consistent rhythm. The Bulls erased the first-quarter deficit by outscoring Long Island 22-17 in the second quarter to narrow the gap and then took control after halftime. A 16-point third quarter for the Bulls was followed by a closing 22-point frame that sealed the victory.

The statistical story of the game was written decisively in the lane. South Florida exerted its will inside, outscoring Long Island 48-16 on points in the paint. This interior dominance proved to be the primary difference on a night where both teams were relatively even in other facets; South Florida scored 15 points off turnovers to Long Island’s 14.

Battle, a 5-foot-7 guard from Gahanna, Ohio, was the catalyst for the Bulls’ offense. In 30 minutes of action, she efficiently poured in 23 points and dished out three assists. She was complemented by Katie Davidson, a 5-10 guard from Indianapolis, who added 18 points in 31 minutes.

The South Florida attack was expertly orchestrated by Stefanie Ingram, who nearly recorded a double-double. The 5-8 guard from Orlando, Florida, played a team-high 32 minutes and distributed nine assists to go along with her 10 points. Ines Piper, a 6-0 forward from Paris, France, also reached double figures with 10 points and a blocked shot in 34 minutes.

For Long Island, the scoring load was shared among several players, but no single performance could match the firepower of Battle. Janiya Reed, a 5-5 guard from Minden, Louisiana, led the Sharks with 15 points in just 24 minutes off the bench. Laura Molnárová, a 5-11 player from Bratislava, Slovakia, contributed 14 points and three assists in 30 minutes.

The Sharks’ backcourt duo of Solangelei Akridge and Janessa Williams each tallied 12 points. Akridge, from Spring Valley, California, played a game-high 37 minutes and added four assists, while Williams, from Lake Worth, Florida, also logged 37 minutes. Hannah Humphrey of Kendleton, Texas, provided a spark with nine points in 21 minutes.

The result was in line with pregame projections from Interstat’s ELO system, which gave South Florida a 99.70 percent probability of winning. The Bulls entered the contest with momentum from a season-opening 81-56 rout of Florida International on Monday. Long Island was coming off a 75-60 road win at Northeastern on the same date.

Looking ahead, South Florida faces a challenging road trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, where they will play Fairfield on Thursday, November 13, followed by a high-profile matchup against UCLA on Saturday, November 15. The Bulls’ schedule remains formidable, with future home games against Duke and reigning powerhouse South Carolina.

Long Island returns to action on Tuesday, November 11, for its home opener against Kean. The Sharks then embark on a road game at Delaware State on Saturday, November 15. Their upcoming slate includes further non-conference tests against opponents such as Fordham, Dayton, and Xavier.