TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Edyn Battle scored 23 points and South Florida used a dominant performance in the paint to fend off a sharp-shooting Long Island team 79-72 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Friday night at the Sun Dome.

The Bulls improved to 2-0, while the Sharks evened their record at 1-1.

Battle, a 5-foot-7 guard from Gahanna, Ohio, was instrumental in the victory, attacking the basket relentlessly. She was complemented by Katie Davidson, who added 18 points, and Stefanie Ingram, who orchestrated the offense with a near double-double of 10 points and 9 assists.

The game was a tale of contrasting styles. Long Island lived by the three-pointer, connecting on 11 of 25 attempts from beyond the arc. South Florida, meanwhile, eschewed the outside shot, making only 2 of 11 from deep, but overwhelmed the Sharks near the basket, outscoring them 48-16 in the paint.

The Bulls also controlled the glass, grabbing 20 offensive rebounds that led to numerous second-chance opportunities and helped offset a nearly even number of possessions for both teams.

Long Island started hot, fueled by its perimeter shooting, and led 25-19 after a high-scoring first quarter. The Sharks maintained their offensive rhythm in the second quarter, but South Florida kept pace and then some, outscoring Long Island 22-17 to cut the deficit to 42-41 at halftime.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle, with South Florida edging ahead by holding the Sharks to 18 points. The Bulls carried a 57-60 lead into the final period and managed to create just enough separation down the stretch, outscoring Long Island 22-12 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

Despite the loss, Long Island had a balanced scoring attack. Janiya Reed led the Sharks with 15 points, while Laura Molnárová of Bratislava, Slovakia, scored 14, including four three-pointers. Solangelei Akridge and Janessa Williams each added 12 points for the Sharks.

South Florida’s efficiency proved decisive. The Bulls scored 79 points on 74 possessions for an offensive rating of 106.9, while Long Island managed a 97.1 offensive rating with the same number of possessions.

An announced crowd of 2,302 watched the game at the Sun Dome.