TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — In a stunning upset, the South Florida Bulls used a dominant first half and weathered a late Duke rally to defeat the Blue Devils 85-72 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the Sun Dome.

A crowd of 2,772 watched as the Bulls, propelled by a career-high 27 points from junior guard Stefanie Ingram, improved their record to 3-2. The Blue Devils, who entered the game as heavy favorites, fell to an even 3-3 on the young season.

South Florida seized control from the opening tip, establishing an early lead and never looking back. The Bulls exploded for 23 points in the first quarter, connecting on a series of efficient shots to build a seven-point lead. They extended that advantage by halftime, outscoring Duke 39-29 in the opening 20 minutes.

The third quarter saw the Bulls maintain their offensive pressure, putting up 24 points to push their lead to as many as 21 points. The catalyst was Ingram, a 5-foot-8 guard from Orlando, Florida, who was nearly unstoppable. She shot 10 of 16 from the field, including 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, and added five assists in 34 minutes of action.

Duke, struggling with its shooting throughout the night, mounted a significant comeback attempt in the final period. The Blue Devils erupted for 26 points in the fourth quarter, cutting what was once a substantial deficit down to single digits. The rally was led by guard Taina Mair, who scored 19 points, and forward Toby Fournier, who added 15 points and three blocks.

However, the early hole proved too deep for Duke to escape. The Blue Devils shot just 36.8 percent from the field and a frigid 23.5 percent from three-point range. They were also hampered at the free-throw line, converting only 18 of 29 attempts.

South Florida, by contrast, was a model of offensive efficiency. The Bulls shot a blistering 56.6 percent from the floor and 46.7 percent from deep. They were nearly perfect from the charity stripe, making 18 of 21 free throws.

While Ingram was the standout, she received ample support. Guard Edyn Battle scored 17 points and dished out three assists, while forward Katie Davidson chipped in 13 points. Forward Fatou Diakite provided a strong presence off the bench with 10 points.

For Duke, Ashlon Jackson joined Mair and Fournier in double figures with 16 points, and Delaney Thomas contributed 11 points. The Blue Devils won the battle on the glass, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds to South Florida’s four, and forced 20 Bulls turnovers. But they could not overcome their own shooting woes and South Florida’s hot hand.

The victory marks a significant early-season win for South Florida, which now looks ahead to a matchup with Minnesota in the Bahamas. Duke, meanwhile, will aim to regroup before a high-profile neutral-site contest against South Carolina next Wednesday.