Bulls edge Chippewas in OT

ANCHORAGE – Andrell Smith sank a tiebreaking three-pointer with 26 seconds left in overtime and fellow guard Kaneisha Saunders scored eight of her game-high 23 points in the extra session Wednesday to lead South Florida to an 86-80 victory over Central Michigan in the opening game of the women's Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena.

USF (4-2) got 15 points and five assists from Smith in the victory, plus 11 points apiece from guards Jasmine Wynne and Shalethia Stringfield to overcome a five-point deficit with one minute left in regulation.

CMU (0-4) got a monster effort from freshman forward Crystal Bradford, who had 22 points, 17 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and three steals to earn Carrs/Safeway Player of the Game honors, but the Chippewas could not break into the win column.

After a back-and-forth second half, CMU took a 72-67 lead with 1:05 remaining in regulation on consecutive baskets from guard Niki DiGuilio. The Bulls answered quickly, however, with a pair of free throws from Saunders, and Smith knotted it on a three-point with 23 seconds left.

CMU forward Brandie Baker then grabbed rebound off a USF miss and was fouled with seven seconds left. The junior made both free throws to put her team ahead 74-72, then blocked Saunders' 15-foot jumper out of bounds with two seconds remaining. Inbounding from under their own basket, the Bulls got the ball to Smith, who was then fouled on a three-point attempt by Bradford. Smith's first shot rolled around the rim before coming off, but her next two shots went in with four-tenths of a second on the clock to send it to OT.

The teams traded baskets until the game was tied at 80, when Smith nailed a trey from the wing. The Chippewas could not find the basket again, and the Bulls sealed it from the charity stripe.

CMU will meet the loser of the second first-round game, between host Alaska Anchorage and 7th- ranked Miami (Fla.), for third place Thursday at 2 p.m. USF will play the winner of that contest at 4 p.m. for the title.

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