USF women’s basketball graduate guard Sammie Puisis scored 25 points and coach Jose Fernandez had a record-setting win against Mount St. Mary’s on Thursday.

Puisis finished the game with seven three-pointers in the Bulls’ 68-51 win – tying her career high.

Thursday night was Puisis’ first game over 20 points since 2023, a year where she missed all but one game due to a knee injury. Puisis said she isn’t fully healthy but is happy to be back on the court.

“I’m not 100%. It takes a few games to get back into it,” Puisis said. “But it’s just fun to get out there again. I’m really enjoying it.”

Fernandez set the record for most wins as a member of the American Athletic Conference with  253, breaking a tie for first place with UConn Hall of Fame head coach Geno Auriemma.

Fernandez was hired in 2000, and has led the Bulls to three conference championships during his tenure.

The coach previously set the AAC conference wins record with 119 in February 2023, a milestone also previously held by Auriemma. 

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

Instead of acknowledging his record-breaking achievement, Fernandez criticized his team’s performance. He said he wasn’t pleased with the team’s shot selection.

“The thing this team has got to learn is to get better shots.” Fernandez said. “We have to be unselfish.”

USF (2-0) struggled to score in the first half, being held to only 35% shooting and totaling a modest 30 points. The Bulls held a five-point lead at the midway point to a Mountaineer squad without senior guard Jo Raflo, its returning leading scorer from last season.

After halftime, Fernandez decided to make a change in the lineup. Sophomore guard Vittoria Blasigh and senior forward Romi Levy were replaced to start the third quarter. 

Levy and Blasigh struggled to score, combining for 7 points on 2-15 shooting.

The two players were replaced by Puisis and freshman Amy Thompson to begin the second half.

Fernandez said he was willing to use his bench because of the depth of the team.

“In other years we didn’t have kids that can come off the bench, but now we do,” Fernandez said. “So if you’re not ready to play on both ends, you’re going to be on the bench and that’s what happened to a couple of guys tonight.” 

Stifling defense by South Florida in the second half helped put distance between it and Mount St. Mary. The Mountaineers made just five baskets on 21 attempts after halftime.

Next up for the Bulls is a road challenge against Auriemma and the No. 2 Huskies on Sunday.  Fernandez said the team cannot afford to get off to a similar start to Thursday’s game if they want to compete.

“I know if we come out and play like we did in that first quarter in front of 18,000 fans, that scoreboard won’t be a pretty scoreboard,” he said. 

USF will face No. 2 UConn on the road at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The game will be broadcast on SNY and Bulls Unlimited.