The Bulls women’s basketball team coasted to a 87-44 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Monday. 

The win marked the beginning of head coach Jose Fernandez’s 25th season and the Bulls’ 11th consecutive season-opener win. 

Related: USF’s Jose Fernandez on his 25th season: ‘This is a special place.’ 

Seven players suited up for their first game in the green and gold, showcasing a revitalized Bulls (1-0) roster. 

One of those players, graduate guard Mama Dembele, needed no time to acclimate under the lights of the Yuengling Center. 

Dembele led the Bulls with 8 assists to complement her 8 points. 

“We’re a different team with Mama pushing the ball down the floor,” Fernandez said during a halftime interview. 

The Bulls managed 22 assists, showing offensive chemistry for a team with so many new players. 

USF pushed the pace as a team, scoring 19 points in the fast break.

“I wanted to keep it simple today,” Fernandez said. “[We] tried to see how well we could share it in transition.”

Related: USF mourns Amir Abdur-Rahim, women’s basketball to face ranked foes and more – Basketball Edition

USF took the lead early in the first quarter and did not look back. The Bulls led by as much as 44 points during the fourth quarter. 

Senior forward L’or Mputu led the scoring charge with 16 points on 77% shooting. 

Mputu was effective on the boards as well, hauling in seven rebounds. Five of her rebounds came on the offensive side of the ball. 

“We did a very good job of moving the ball and finding open layups,” Mputu said in a post-game interview. 

USF racked up 17 offensive rebounds, creating the opportunity for 20 second-chance points.

The game marked the return of graduate guard Sammie Puisis, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last December. 

Related: These are USF’s top five athletes 

Puisis made an immediate impact, scoring two three-pointers within a minute of checking in. She finished the game with 13 points. 

The Bulls were no slouch on the defensive side of the ball either, snagging 27 defensive rebounds along with eight steals and four blocks.

USF held Bethune-Cookman to 28% shooting, allowing only one three-pointer the entire game. 

Big games from new players fueled the Bulls’ victory. On top of Dembele’s performance, freshman guard Raina Tomasicka made a big effort, scoring 11 points in her first game as a college basketball player on 50% shooting. 

Despite the big win, USF made a multitude of unforced errors. The Bulls committed 18 turnovers throughout the game. 

“That’s the biggest thing,” Fernandez said. “That can’t happen.”

Fernandez said he believed the key to limiting turnovers was making extra passes. 

USF made up for its own mishaps by forcing 20 Bethune-Cookman turnovers, allowing the Bulls to create 25 points off possession changes. 

But the mistakes didn’t overshadow the Bulls’ win for Fernandez. 

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Fernandez said, “I’m really happy coaching this group.”

South Florida women’s basketball will return to the Yuengling Center at 7 p.m. Nov 7. to take on Mt. St Mary’s. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Bulls Unlimited.