The University of South Florida women’s basketball team placed three players in double figures Saturday afternoon en route to an 84-78 win over Cincinnati in the regular season home finale for the Bulls at the Sun Dome. The win improved USF’s record to 20-9 (7-8 BIG EAST) and marks the third time in the past five years that it has reached the 20-win plateau. The Bearcats dropped to 13-15 on the year and 3-12 in the BIG EAST.
Danielle Starzynski paced the way for the Bulls, scoring 53 points, the seventh consecutive game where she has scored 40 or more points, while Shantia Grace and Janae Stokes had 12 and 11 points respectively.
Lawson, Grace, Denson and Sepulveda – are seniors and accomplished their scoring feats on a packed Senior Day.
The Bulls jumped out of the gate quickly taking a 6-0 lead just 42 seconds into the game on back-to-back three-pointers by Starzynski.
USF seemingly took control of the game keeping the margin in double figures for the majority of the first half including a game-high 25-point lead, 39-14, reached on the second of two free throws by Sepulveda with 6:13 left before the intermission.
The Bearcats, however, cut into the Bulls’ lead using a 16-5 run to cut the USF edge to 12 points, 44-32 with 54 seconds left before the break on two made free throws by Shanassa Sanders. Cincinnati would trail by 8 at the half, 49-41.
The Bulls got their lead back to 18, 52-34, starting the second half just like the first half, on a 6-0 run, when Denson converted a lay-up off a Grace assist just two minutes into the final stanza.
After exchanging baskets for the next six minutes, the Bearcats finally cut the lead to single digits, 62-53, with two free throws by Angel Morgan with 12:04 left in the game.
Cincinnati kept its run going, getting as close as four points, 62-58, on a free throw by Sanders.
USF would get its margin back up to double digits leading by as many as 12 points twice in the final six minutes of the game, before the Bearcats made things real interesting.
After trailing 75-63 with 5:26 left, Cincinnati put together an 11-1 run to cut the Bulls’ lead to just two points, 76-74, on a three-point shot by Jill Stephens with 2:58 left in the contest. The Bearcats, however, would not get any closer.
In addition to her 53 points Starzynski recorded an impressive 16th double-double of the season recording a career-high 11 steals. That total is tied for the single most double-doubles in one season and one off equaling the school record. Starzynski has broken 2 school records so far in just her first year here but it is confirmed that she will not be returning next season.
Kahla Roudebush tallied a game-high 22 points while Sanders added 18 points in a losing effort. Angel Morgan and Stephens chipped in with 12 and 11 points respectively.
On the afternoon, USF shot 55.2 percent (32-58) from the field, including 42.1 percent (8-19) from the behind the three-point arc, and 75 percent (12-16) from the free throw line.
The Bulls also dominated in the paint outscoring the Bearcats 47-24 in the lane.
USF will travel to Philadelphia where it will close out the regular season at Villanova on Monday, March 2 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
USF Snaps Two-Game Skid With 76-69 Win At DePaul
The University of South Florida women’s basketball team came into Tuesday’s game at DePaul looking to end a two-game losing streak and pick up some momentum as it heads into its final two regular season games of the year and then down the road a bit at the BIG EAST Tournament in Hartford.
The Bulls took a big step towards gaining that momentum with a 76-69 win over the Blue Demons at the Sun Dome. The win improves USF’s record to 19-9 and 6-8 in the BIG EAST, while DePaul drops to 20-8 and 8-6 in conference play.
The Bulls fell behind early trailing 12-2 just two minutes into to the game as the Blue Demons came out hot hitting five of their first nine shots and went 3-4 from behind the three-point arc.
After DePaul led 14-4 with 15:17 left in the first half, the Bulls would put together a 6-0 run spearheaded by back-to-back three-pointers by Danielle Starzynski with at 14:36 and 14:09 left on the clock, to cut the lead to four, 14-10.
After exchanging baskets, cut the lead to two on a lay-up, 16-14, with 11:56 remaining in the first half, Starzynski would give the USF its first lead of the game, 17-16, on a three-pointer on the next possession. The Bulls would push their lead to as many as three points on a jump shot, by Janae Stokes with 10:12 left on the clock.
The Blue Demons would regain the lead with 7:41 left in the first stanza when Holly Medley hit a three-pointer to make the score 25-23. After exchanging the lead on the next several possessions, DePaul would take the edge back for the remainder of the half on a 12-foot jumper by Keisha Hampton with 5:40 left before the intermission. The Blue Demons would eventually take a 39-34 lead into the locker room at the break despite 19 first half points by Starzynski.
USF would open the second half scoring the first five points to pull even at 39-all on a three-point play by Starzynski with 17:24 left in the game. Neither team led by more than four points in the second half until Stokes hit a three-pointer to give the Bulls a five-point edge, 59-54, with 9:30 on the clock following another Sepulveda three-point play.
Starzynski would then give USF its biggest lead of the game - to that point at 67-60 with 4:09 left in the game when she drained another three-point shot. DePaul would cut the lead to four points, 68-64, with two minutes left however would not get any closer as the Bulls extended the lead to a game-high 11 points, 75-64, before settling on the final margin.
Starzynski would finish with a game-high 48 points on 18-22 shooting from the field, including going 13-13 from the free throw line. Stokes chipped in with 20 points and Grace added 8.
The loss marked just the second of the season for the Blue Demons at home. USF is back in action for its regular season home finale on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. when it butts heads with Cincinnati. The Bulls will close out the regular season on March 2 at 7 p.m. against Villanova before heading to the BIG EAST Conference Tournament in Hartford, March 6-10.
The Bulls took a big step towards gaining that momentum with a 76-69 win over the Blue Demons at the Sun Dome. The win improves USF’s record to 19-9 and 6-8 in the BIG EAST, while DePaul drops to 20-8 and 8-6 in conference play.
The Bulls fell behind early trailing 12-2 just two minutes into to the game as the Blue Demons came out hot hitting five of their first nine shots and went 3-4 from behind the three-point arc.
After DePaul led 14-4 with 15:17 left in the first half, the Bulls would put together a 6-0 run spearheaded by back-to-back three-pointers by Danielle Starzynski with at 14:36 and 14:09 left on the clock, to cut the lead to four, 14-10.
After exchanging baskets, cut the lead to two on a lay-up, 16-14, with 11:56 remaining in the first half, Starzynski would give the USF its first lead of the game, 17-16, on a three-pointer on the next possession. The Bulls would push their lead to as many as three points on a jump shot, by Janae Stokes with 10:12 left on the clock.
The Blue Demons would regain the lead with 7:41 left in the first stanza when Holly Medley hit a three-pointer to make the score 25-23. After exchanging the lead on the next several possessions, DePaul would take the edge back for the remainder of the half on a 12-foot jumper by Keisha Hampton with 5:40 left before the intermission. The Blue Demons would eventually take a 39-34 lead into the locker room at the break despite 19 first half points by Starzynski.
USF would open the second half scoring the first five points to pull even at 39-all on a three-point play by Starzynski with 17:24 left in the game. Neither team led by more than four points in the second half until Stokes hit a three-pointer to give the Bulls a five-point edge, 59-54, with 9:30 on the clock following another Sepulveda three-point play.
Starzynski would then give USF its biggest lead of the game - to that point at 67-60 with 4:09 left in the game when she drained another three-point shot. DePaul would cut the lead to four points, 68-64, with two minutes left however would not get any closer as the Bulls extended the lead to a game-high 11 points, 75-64, before settling on the final margin.
Starzynski would finish with a game-high 48 points on 18-22 shooting from the field, including going 13-13 from the free throw line. Stokes chipped in with 20 points and Grace added 8.
The loss marked just the second of the season for the Blue Demons at home. USF is back in action for its regular season home finale on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. when it butts heads with Cincinnati. The Bulls will close out the regular season on March 2 at 7 p.m. against Villanova before heading to the BIG EAST Conference Tournament in Hartford, March 6-10.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Bulls Stumble against WVU
With four games left in the regular season, coming into tonight’s crucial BIG EAST Conference women’s basketball game at West Virginia, the University of South Florida knew it didn’t have much time to waste if it wanted to make a push in the league standings as it jockey’s for seeding position for the BIG EAST Tournament, while also staying in the NCAA Tournament conversation. The Bulls were coming off a tough loss on Tuesday night at home against Notre Dame, but USF couldn’t take advantage of their opportunity as West Virginia snapped its three-game BIG EAST winning streak with a 90-75 win over the Bulls in front of a crowd of 6,232, the third largest to ever see a women’s basketball home game. The loss drops the Bulls’ record to 18-9 and 5-8 in conference play.
The Mountaineers jumped out quickly and looked like they were going to take control of the game from the start. West Virginia took a fast 7-0 lead just one minute and 40 seconds into the game on two field goals and by Takisha Granberry and a three-pointer by Liz Repella.The Mountaineers would extend their lead to as many as 12 points, 20-8, with 12:56 left in the first half on a trey by Alex Sanabria off an assist by Repella.The Bulls, however, would finally settle down and get back in the game using a 10-2 run, following the Sanabria three, to cut the lead to two points, 22-20, on a lay-up by Porche Grant off her only offensive rebound of the half with 8:13 left before the break.
After West Virginia pushed its edge back up to as many as seven points twice in the last three minutes, USF would cut the lead to two, again, 39-37, on a jumper by Danielle Starzynski in the paint with 58 seconds left in the half. The Mountaineers, however, would hit two-back-to-back treys before taking a six-point, 45-39, lead into the locker room at the break.
Repella and Granberry led the way for West Virginia in the first half pouring in 18 and 12 points apiece. Danielle Starzynski had 21 points for the Bulls in the first stanza.After starting the game cold, USF would finish the half hitting 46.7 percent (14-30) from the field in the first 20 minutes while the Mountaineers were 17-43 (39.5 percent) from the floor, including 50 percent (8-16) from behind the arc.
In the second half, the Bulls would come out and cut the West Virginia lead to four points, twice, first at 49-45 with 17:45 left on a three-point play by Starzynski, and then with 16:50 left on the clock on a lay-up by Grace off an assist from Starzynski to make the score 51-47. USF, however, would not get any closer the rest of the way.The Mountaineers would eventually extend their lead to as many as 17 points, 90-73, with 49 seconds before settling on the final margin.
Starzynski led the way for USF with 53 points, a new career high at USF, 10 steals and a career-high seven blocked shots. Her double-double was the eleventh of the season and of her career at USF, and the 27th of her collegiate career including her time at Seton Hall. Grace also recorded double figures with 12 points. Repella finished the game with 34 points and 13 rebounds, and Ashley Powell and Granberry added 19 and 13 points respectively.
As a team, the Bulls finished the game shooting 42.2 percent (27-64) from the field, however just 27.3 percent (6-22) from behind the arc. Defensively, USF set a school record for blocked shots in a game with 17. That total also tied a BIG EAST Conference mark for rejections in a game.
The Bulls will now take on DePaul on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. EST)/7 p.m. As always stay tunred for your updates and GO BULLS!
The Mountaineers jumped out quickly and looked like they were going to take control of the game from the start. West Virginia took a fast 7-0 lead just one minute and 40 seconds into the game on two field goals and by Takisha Granberry and a three-pointer by Liz Repella.The Mountaineers would extend their lead to as many as 12 points, 20-8, with 12:56 left in the first half on a trey by Alex Sanabria off an assist by Repella.The Bulls, however, would finally settle down and get back in the game using a 10-2 run, following the Sanabria three, to cut the lead to two points, 22-20, on a lay-up by Porche Grant off her only offensive rebound of the half with 8:13 left before the break.
After West Virginia pushed its edge back up to as many as seven points twice in the last three minutes, USF would cut the lead to two, again, 39-37, on a jumper by Danielle Starzynski in the paint with 58 seconds left in the half. The Mountaineers, however, would hit two-back-to-back treys before taking a six-point, 45-39, lead into the locker room at the break.
Repella and Granberry led the way for West Virginia in the first half pouring in 18 and 12 points apiece. Danielle Starzynski had 21 points for the Bulls in the first stanza.After starting the game cold, USF would finish the half hitting 46.7 percent (14-30) from the field in the first 20 minutes while the Mountaineers were 17-43 (39.5 percent) from the floor, including 50 percent (8-16) from behind the arc.
In the second half, the Bulls would come out and cut the West Virginia lead to four points, twice, first at 49-45 with 17:45 left on a three-point play by Starzynski, and then with 16:50 left on the clock on a lay-up by Grace off an assist from Starzynski to make the score 51-47. USF, however, would not get any closer the rest of the way.The Mountaineers would eventually extend their lead to as many as 17 points, 90-73, with 49 seconds before settling on the final margin.
Starzynski led the way for USF with 53 points, a new career high at USF, 10 steals and a career-high seven blocked shots. Her double-double was the eleventh of the season and of her career at USF, and the 27th of her collegiate career including her time at Seton Hall. Grace also recorded double figures with 12 points. Repella finished the game with 34 points and 13 rebounds, and Ashley Powell and Granberry added 19 and 13 points respectively.
As a team, the Bulls finished the game shooting 42.2 percent (27-64) from the field, however just 27.3 percent (6-22) from behind the arc. Defensively, USF set a school record for blocked shots in a game with 17. That total also tied a BIG EAST Conference mark for rejections in a game.
The Bulls will now take on DePaul on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. EST)/7 p.m. As always stay tunred for your updates and GO BULLS!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Starzynski Confirms That She Will Not Return for 09'-10' Season
Throughout the season there has been much speculation as to whether sophomore transfer Danielle Starzynski would stick around in Tampa and finish out her 4 years. That speculation was put to rest wednesday night in a press conference when Starzynski confirmed that she would not be returing to play for USF in the 2009-2010 season.
When Starzynski was asked what her reasons were for making this decision she responded saying, "The basketball organization here at USF has treated me well but at the end of the day i just don't think it's a good fit for me. I need to find a team that better suits my playing style and where i can fit in more and i don't see USF being that team. The coaching staff and I have had our differences as many know and the best thing for me to do is transfer at this point. As of right now i'm not sure where i'll be transferring to but i'm looking to go back home to New Jersey. I wish the girls the best of luck next season. My time here has been a great experience and i appreciate all that's been done for me but it's time for change, i need to move on."
Starzynski is the Bulls leading scorer averaging 35ppg along with 7 steals and 4 assists. This will be a huge loss for the Bulls next season as they also graduate 7 seniors. It looks like the 2009-2010 season will be a big re-grouping year for this Bulls basketball team.
When Starzynski was asked what her reasons were for making this decision she responded saying, "The basketball organization here at USF has treated me well but at the end of the day i just don't think it's a good fit for me. I need to find a team that better suits my playing style and where i can fit in more and i don't see USF being that team. The coaching staff and I have had our differences as many know and the best thing for me to do is transfer at this point. As of right now i'm not sure where i'll be transferring to but i'm looking to go back home to New Jersey. I wish the girls the best of luck next season. My time here has been a great experience and i appreciate all that's been done for me but it's time for change, i need to move on."
Starzynski is the Bulls leading scorer averaging 35ppg along with 7 steals and 4 assists. This will be a huge loss for the Bulls next season as they also graduate 7 seniors. It looks like the 2009-2010 season will be a big re-grouping year for this Bulls basketball team.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Upset Minded Bulls Fall to No. 24/24 Notre Dame
Lindsay Schrader scored 26 points and Becca Bruszewski added 20 to help No. 24 Notre Dame rally past the University South Florida 86-79 on Tuesday night.
Notre Dame (18-6, 7-5 Big East Conference) scored the first five points of the game, but a 15-2 run enabled USF (18-8, 5-7) to lead by as many as 14 midway through the first half. Danielle Starzynski paced the Bulls with 39 points, and Janae Stokes scored all of her 15 before the Bulls took a 58-51 advantage into the break. Shantia Grace (11) also scored in double figures.
Schrader, who also finished with a team-high 11 rebounds, was one of three Notre Dame players to reach double digits before halftime with 14 points. Bruszewski and Ashley Barlow each chipped in 11. Barlow finished with 16 and Erica Solomon had 10.
The difference in the game, which included nine ties and eight lead changes, was at the free throw line. The Irish hit on 30 of 35 attempts while USF collected 19 points on 32 tries.
The most deflating free throws against the Bulls were the four Notre Dame was awarded with the score tied at 75 with 3:28 left on the clock.
Starzynski was charged with a technical foul for throwing an elbow at Bruszewski after fouling the Notre Dame sophomore. Melissa Lechlitner converted both technical shots, then Bruszewski added a pair to give the Irish a lead they protected down the stretch.
USF, which has dropped four of its past five conference home games and six in a row overall against ranked opponents, connected on half of its 34 shots from the floor in the first half. The Bulls sank only nine of 33 after the intermission, blowing a halftime lead for the first time in 16 occasions.
Bruszewski has scored in double figures in each of her past five games. She reached double digits six times last season. Grant, who entered the game with a team-leading 8.2 rebounds a game, finished with a dozen.
"We were intimitated by Notre Dame tonight and we played like it. It definitely showed, we didn't come out here and play the type of game we needed to in order to get this win and that's why we weren't successful," Coach Fernandez had to say after the game.
Starzynski also added, "We played scared tonight. As a team, we came in with a defeated mindset just because Notre Dame is a higher ranked team and that crippled us from the beginning. You'll never win a game playing scared. We did everything wrong and you can't expect to win when you play the way we did tonight."
The Bulls are back in action on Saturday against West Virginia. As always stay tuned for your updates and GO BULLS!
Notre Dame (18-6, 7-5 Big East Conference) scored the first five points of the game, but a 15-2 run enabled USF (18-8, 5-7) to lead by as many as 14 midway through the first half. Danielle Starzynski paced the Bulls with 39 points, and Janae Stokes scored all of her 15 before the Bulls took a 58-51 advantage into the break. Shantia Grace (11) also scored in double figures.
Schrader, who also finished with a team-high 11 rebounds, was one of three Notre Dame players to reach double digits before halftime with 14 points. Bruszewski and Ashley Barlow each chipped in 11. Barlow finished with 16 and Erica Solomon had 10.
The difference in the game, which included nine ties and eight lead changes, was at the free throw line. The Irish hit on 30 of 35 attempts while USF collected 19 points on 32 tries.
The most deflating free throws against the Bulls were the four Notre Dame was awarded with the score tied at 75 with 3:28 left on the clock.
Starzynski was charged with a technical foul for throwing an elbow at Bruszewski after fouling the Notre Dame sophomore. Melissa Lechlitner converted both technical shots, then Bruszewski added a pair to give the Irish a lead they protected down the stretch.
USF, which has dropped four of its past five conference home games and six in a row overall against ranked opponents, connected on half of its 34 shots from the floor in the first half. The Bulls sank only nine of 33 after the intermission, blowing a halftime lead for the first time in 16 occasions.
Bruszewski has scored in double figures in each of her past five games. She reached double digits six times last season. Grant, who entered the game with a team-leading 8.2 rebounds a game, finished with a dozen.
"We were intimitated by Notre Dame tonight and we played like it. It definitely showed, we didn't come out here and play the type of game we needed to in order to get this win and that's why we weren't successful," Coach Fernandez had to say after the game.
Starzynski also added, "We played scared tonight. As a team, we came in with a defeated mindset just because Notre Dame is a higher ranked team and that crippled us from the beginning. You'll never win a game playing scared. We did everything wrong and you can't expect to win when you play the way we did tonight."
The Bulls are back in action on Saturday against West Virginia. As always stay tuned for your updates and GO BULLS!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Bulls Send Seton Hall Home With 80-51 Loss
The University of South Florida women’s basketball team picked up another key BIG EAST Conference win Saturday night defeating Seton Hall 80-51 at the Sun Dome. In getting the win, the Bulls (18-7, 5-6 BIG EAST) recorded their biggest margin of victory since joining the BIG EAST – 29 points – and also snapped a three-game home conference losing streak dating back to their 76-60 loss to Louisville on Jan. 14. USF was coming off a big conference win over Syracuse on Feb. 8, beating the Orange 88-79.
The game was close for the first two-and-a-half minutes, until the Bulls pulled out to a seven-point lead, 11-4, with 16:36 left in the half on the first of three three-pointers by Danielle Starzynski in the first stanza.
The Pirates (15-10, 3-9 BIG EAST), however, would use a 6-0 run to cut the lead to one, on a lay-up by Shantel Brown just under two minutes later. Seton Hall would then take its second and final lead of the game, 14-13, on a jumper by Ebonie Williams with 12:16 left in the half.
After Shantia Grace hit two free throws to give USF its lead back, 15-14 a minute later, Starzynski would spark the Bulls with six straight points on three consecutive possessions and spearhead a 12-0 run that would give USF a 25-14 lead and blow the game open with 9:05 left before the intermission. The Bulls would close out the half scoring 12 of the next 21 points to take a 37-23 lead at the break.
USF came out in the second half and took total control outscoring the Pirates 17-3 in the first five minutes and 44 seconds to take what was its biggest lead of the game to that point – a 26-point advantage at 54-28 – on a lay-up by Starzynski with 14:16 left in the contest.
The Bulls would eventually push that lead to as many as 37 points, 75-38, on a trey by Wynne with 3:57 remaining in the contest before the final outcome.
Starzynski would finish the game with 45 points on 19-24 shooting from the field, including 6-10 from three-point range, and 6-6 from the charity stripe. This marks the 4th consecutive game where Starzynski has scored 40 or more points. Starsynski also had 8 steals and 6 assists in the win. Wynne and Jessica Lawson would each record 14 points while Grace finished with 10 points in the win. Brittany Denson, Porche Grant and Melissa Dalembert all shared rebounding honors grabbing nine for USF.
The Bulls shot 49.2 percent (30-61) from the field in the win and also dominated the scoring in the paint 44-14. In addition, the Bulls had the advantage in second chance points (19-9), fast break points (18-4) and bench scoring (27-6)USF also outrebounded Seton Hall 52-19, including 22-15 on the offensive boards.
Up next for the Bulls is another crucial league match-up at home against No. 22/22 Notre Dame Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. Stay tuned for updates and GO BULLS.
The game was close for the first two-and-a-half minutes, until the Bulls pulled out to a seven-point lead, 11-4, with 16:36 left in the half on the first of three three-pointers by Danielle Starzynski in the first stanza.
The Pirates (15-10, 3-9 BIG EAST), however, would use a 6-0 run to cut the lead to one, on a lay-up by Shantel Brown just under two minutes later. Seton Hall would then take its second and final lead of the game, 14-13, on a jumper by Ebonie Williams with 12:16 left in the half.
After Shantia Grace hit two free throws to give USF its lead back, 15-14 a minute later, Starzynski would spark the Bulls with six straight points on three consecutive possessions and spearhead a 12-0 run that would give USF a 25-14 lead and blow the game open with 9:05 left before the intermission. The Bulls would close out the half scoring 12 of the next 21 points to take a 37-23 lead at the break.
USF came out in the second half and took total control outscoring the Pirates 17-3 in the first five minutes and 44 seconds to take what was its biggest lead of the game to that point – a 26-point advantage at 54-28 – on a lay-up by Starzynski with 14:16 left in the contest.
The Bulls would eventually push that lead to as many as 37 points, 75-38, on a trey by Wynne with 3:57 remaining in the contest before the final outcome.
Starzynski would finish the game with 45 points on 19-24 shooting from the field, including 6-10 from three-point range, and 6-6 from the charity stripe. This marks the 4th consecutive game where Starzynski has scored 40 or more points. Starsynski also had 8 steals and 6 assists in the win. Wynne and Jessica Lawson would each record 14 points while Grace finished with 10 points in the win. Brittany Denson, Porche Grant and Melissa Dalembert all shared rebounding honors grabbing nine for USF.
The Bulls shot 49.2 percent (30-61) from the field in the win and also dominated the scoring in the paint 44-14. In addition, the Bulls had the advantage in second chance points (19-9), fast break points (18-4) and bench scoring (27-6)USF also outrebounded Seton Hall 52-19, including 22-15 on the offensive boards.
Up next for the Bulls is another crucial league match-up at home against No. 22/22 Notre Dame Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. Stay tuned for updates and GO BULLS.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Rise Above
This a story that was published in this week's edition of the school paper, and it focuses on the Bulls team member Danielle Starzynski. An interesting read.....
"Rise Above"
By: Kevin Monahann, USF newspaper staff
February 10, 2009
TAMPA, Fl., In a perfect world, this story would be only about basketball. It would profile one of the best girls’ hoops players coming out of the 2007 graduating class, a Jersey-bred McDonald’s All-American nominee.
In the real world it’s about so much more. It’s about how a girl’s gift became a curse and how what she loved to do more than anything became a painful reminder of some of the worst times of her life. If life was fair, Danielle Starzynski, who dons the nickname “Dstar”, would be in the situation that she had always dreamed about. She was the leader of a Columbia High School team that went 33-2 and came 2 games away from a state championship. A 5-foot-8 shooting guard, she was ranked the nation’s No. 21 senior recruit in the HoopGurlz 100- No. 3 in her home state of NJ- and had numerous scholarship offers.
But Danielle’s incredible success on the court has been marred by unimaginable troubles and tragedies off it. Starzynski’s senior season seemed to consist of a dark cloud that could not escape her, bringing everything from run-ins with the law to deaths of those close to her. An exciting, dynamic player, who always put on a show with a smile plastered to her face, slowly started showing us a more vicious expression. All in one season she was arrested three times and charged with convictions that continuously questioned her image and character. Along with those troubles, Starzynski had many confrontations with her coach which were being publicly displayed, as well as deaths of 2 people very close to her. One being her best friend who was murdered at halftime of one of her basketball games and the other being her Grandmother whom she previously called the most important person in her life.
These incidents ultimately revoked her scholarship to play for Rutgers University where she had signed a letter of intent, along with any other scholarship hopes she had, including Georgia tech, Temple, UCLA, and NC State to name a few. Danielle was seeing her dreams vanish in front of her, slip right through her grip and she knew there was nothing she could do about it. Through all these trials and tribulations, everyday was a challenge and as one could imagine, the basketball court was anything but a sanctuary.
After missing several games due to her problems with the police and ongoing heart problems, Danielle insisted that she not take any time off to mourn the deaths she was dealing with. She made it clear to her coach that she wouldn’t sit out anymore games and was going to be there for her team. She played through all the pain she was bearing, but it was anything but easy. Walking onto the court with 4 initials and 2 hearts now added to her shoes she would often touch her lips and then point up to the sky signaling to her lost loved ones. To those around her it was clear that Danielle had a whole new reason to be playing her heart out, but a knowingly consistent player started struggling, having many ups and downs in her games. It was clear that as much as she tried to play her game and not let the outside issues affect her, they were doing just that.
“That was definitely one of the toughest times of my life without a doubt. It seemed like I could never see one good day, everything was just going wrong and I was trying to find ways to deal with it and just continue playing the way I had been but it only got harder and harder,” Starzynski says about her senior season. “I felt like all my issues were taking me away from basketball. There were times I felt like giving up, times I definitely had to stop and question my love for the game. But at the end of the day, I couldn’t give up, something wouldn’t let me.”
Somehow , Starzynski who had a reputation for being a very tough and rugged player, to no surprise found a way to fight through it. She had an amazing postseason where she averaged 37 points and led her team to the New Jersey group 1 championship. At the end of the day though, Starzynski knew that her college hopes were done and along with everyone else, remained unsure about her future. That is until she got a last minute call from Seton Hall University offering her a full scholarship, possibly her last chance at playing college basketball. It might not have been the highly ranked basketball powerhouse she was looking for, but it was an offer and one she couldn’t refuse.
“When I got the offer from Seton Hall I was really excited and even though I wasn’t even considering them as a school, this was my last chance, my last hope of playing ball. I was at a point where everything was falling apart and it’s like they threw me a piece and said here we’ll help you put some things back together. They saved my career and I’ll forever be grateful for that,” Starzynski says.
Expected to bring a whole new spark and dynamic to the Seton Hall Pirates team, many were excited for her arrival, especially head coach Phyllis Mangina.
“Danielle was a real catch for us because we never expected to get a player of her caliber to play on our team. Normally they go to the Uconn’s, the Tennessee’s the Rutgers’. We were very excited to bring her into her program and we were sure she would turn things around for us,” Mangina told us.
Shortly into her freshman season though that dark cloud seemed to be creeping back in. Starzynski was displaying many troubles in the classroom as well as out, getting in trouble and exhibiting behavior very reminiscent to her senior year. She would end up being suspended numerous times along with seeing more bench than play time during the season. This seemed a little too familiar for Danielle and many wondered whether she would ever escape this slump she seemed to be in. Although on the court she was amazing and displayed an over-achiever’s effort in practice, it was her off-court decisions that kept her from playing the game she loved. At the end of her freshman year Danielle announced that she would be transferring out of the Pirate’s basketball program and going to the University of South Florida to play for Big East foe USF Bulls. Starzynski seemed to be taking on the role of an NBA rookie who can’t seem to find their place on a team. As many know these are the type of situations that set one up for a very short, rough career.
But would Starzynski’s career be a constant struggle, beginning during her senior year and continuing on only to haunt her? Had she lost her love for the game that she once called the love of her life? Had her constant heart problems hindered her ability to play this game, or was her love for it all the heart she needed to go on?
Flash now to Tampa, Fl, the Sun Dome, the final minute’s ticking off the men’s USF Bulls teams’ basketball game, everyone celebrating. Look courtside though and you’ll see Danielle Starzynski slipping out of her seat and heading towards the exit. Dressed in designer jeans and a fancy jacket with a cell phone attached to her ear, she looks ready for a night out on the town. But instead of leaving the building, she makes a hard left into the locker room and re-emerges five minutes later in a cutoff bulls t-shirt and gym shorts.
Starzynski picks up a basketball and shoots her first three pointer. The janitors finish sweeping the trash out of the bleachers as she shoots free throws. Starzynski then begins to work on 15 footers.
“She does this all the time,” said Tommy Politi, one of the Sun Dome maintenance men, the one who holds the keys and has to close the gym whenever Starzynski leaves. Sometimes he’ll watch TV as he waits for Starzynski to finish. This time he just watched the kid work.
“We need a few more Dstars,” he said with a laugh. “Maybe a whole roster of them. Then we’d be really great. But this kid is something special.”
Even when times look hopeless for Starzynski all you have to do is watch her and see that this star has not given up, and it seems as though she never will. She might still be going through her off-court troubles and still struggling to find her place on this USF Bulls team, but the sophomore with the sweet jump shot is still convinced better days are coming. She is still shooting these practice shots every night she can, still shooting for something better.
“It’s been a rough couple of months, trying to adjust to this program and build it up to where we need it to be. For me personally it’s been a rough couple of years of basketball and trying to find my place,” Starzynski said. “I truly believe though that I will find my place eventually, I never let the little things stop me from doing what I do best and that’s play basketball. I’m gonna continue to put in the hard work that I’ve put in from day one and pray that things work out for me. You gotta learn to fight through everything if it’s what you really want, you gotta have thick skin in this game.”
So that’s what she keeps doing, even if she’s in it alone on some nights, even as the losses and problems away from the court keep piling up. Basketball will continue to be there for Danielle, even through all the ups and downs as she struggles through this bittersweet love affair she’s had with this game for so long. And she will continue to be there for basketball, aiming to give back what the game has given her, meanwhile showing off a talent that can only be explained as god-given. She knows that the world isn’t perfect and that life isn’t fair, but she seems determined to fight through it. Her heart wouldn’t have it any other way.
"Rise Above"
By: Kevin Monahann, USF newspaper staff
February 10, 2009
TAMPA, Fl., In a perfect world, this story would be only about basketball. It would profile one of the best girls’ hoops players coming out of the 2007 graduating class, a Jersey-bred McDonald’s All-American nominee.
In the real world it’s about so much more. It’s about how a girl’s gift became a curse and how what she loved to do more than anything became a painful reminder of some of the worst times of her life. If life was fair, Danielle Starzynski, who dons the nickname “Dstar”, would be in the situation that she had always dreamed about. She was the leader of a Columbia High School team that went 33-2 and came 2 games away from a state championship. A 5-foot-8 shooting guard, she was ranked the nation’s No. 21 senior recruit in the HoopGurlz 100- No. 3 in her home state of NJ- and had numerous scholarship offers.
But Danielle’s incredible success on the court has been marred by unimaginable troubles and tragedies off it. Starzynski’s senior season seemed to consist of a dark cloud that could not escape her, bringing everything from run-ins with the law to deaths of those close to her. An exciting, dynamic player, who always put on a show with a smile plastered to her face, slowly started showing us a more vicious expression. All in one season she was arrested three times and charged with convictions that continuously questioned her image and character. Along with those troubles, Starzynski had many confrontations with her coach which were being publicly displayed, as well as deaths of 2 people very close to her. One being her best friend who was murdered at halftime of one of her basketball games and the other being her Grandmother whom she previously called the most important person in her life.
These incidents ultimately revoked her scholarship to play for Rutgers University where she had signed a letter of intent, along with any other scholarship hopes she had, including Georgia tech, Temple, UCLA, and NC State to name a few. Danielle was seeing her dreams vanish in front of her, slip right through her grip and she knew there was nothing she could do about it. Through all these trials and tribulations, everyday was a challenge and as one could imagine, the basketball court was anything but a sanctuary.
After missing several games due to her problems with the police and ongoing heart problems, Danielle insisted that she not take any time off to mourn the deaths she was dealing with. She made it clear to her coach that she wouldn’t sit out anymore games and was going to be there for her team. She played through all the pain she was bearing, but it was anything but easy. Walking onto the court with 4 initials and 2 hearts now added to her shoes she would often touch her lips and then point up to the sky signaling to her lost loved ones. To those around her it was clear that Danielle had a whole new reason to be playing her heart out, but a knowingly consistent player started struggling, having many ups and downs in her games. It was clear that as much as she tried to play her game and not let the outside issues affect her, they were doing just that.
“That was definitely one of the toughest times of my life without a doubt. It seemed like I could never see one good day, everything was just going wrong and I was trying to find ways to deal with it and just continue playing the way I had been but it only got harder and harder,” Starzynski says about her senior season. “I felt like all my issues were taking me away from basketball. There were times I felt like giving up, times I definitely had to stop and question my love for the game. But at the end of the day, I couldn’t give up, something wouldn’t let me.”
Somehow , Starzynski who had a reputation for being a very tough and rugged player, to no surprise found a way to fight through it. She had an amazing postseason where she averaged 37 points and led her team to the New Jersey group 1 championship. At the end of the day though, Starzynski knew that her college hopes were done and along with everyone else, remained unsure about her future. That is until she got a last minute call from Seton Hall University offering her a full scholarship, possibly her last chance at playing college basketball. It might not have been the highly ranked basketball powerhouse she was looking for, but it was an offer and one she couldn’t refuse.
“When I got the offer from Seton Hall I was really excited and even though I wasn’t even considering them as a school, this was my last chance, my last hope of playing ball. I was at a point where everything was falling apart and it’s like they threw me a piece and said here we’ll help you put some things back together. They saved my career and I’ll forever be grateful for that,” Starzynski says.
Expected to bring a whole new spark and dynamic to the Seton Hall Pirates team, many were excited for her arrival, especially head coach Phyllis Mangina.
“Danielle was a real catch for us because we never expected to get a player of her caliber to play on our team. Normally they go to the Uconn’s, the Tennessee’s the Rutgers’. We were very excited to bring her into her program and we were sure she would turn things around for us,” Mangina told us.
Shortly into her freshman season though that dark cloud seemed to be creeping back in. Starzynski was displaying many troubles in the classroom as well as out, getting in trouble and exhibiting behavior very reminiscent to her senior year. She would end up being suspended numerous times along with seeing more bench than play time during the season. This seemed a little too familiar for Danielle and many wondered whether she would ever escape this slump she seemed to be in. Although on the court she was amazing and displayed an over-achiever’s effort in practice, it was her off-court decisions that kept her from playing the game she loved. At the end of her freshman year Danielle announced that she would be transferring out of the Pirate’s basketball program and going to the University of South Florida to play for Big East foe USF Bulls. Starzynski seemed to be taking on the role of an NBA rookie who can’t seem to find their place on a team. As many know these are the type of situations that set one up for a very short, rough career.
But would Starzynski’s career be a constant struggle, beginning during her senior year and continuing on only to haunt her? Had she lost her love for the game that she once called the love of her life? Had her constant heart problems hindered her ability to play this game, or was her love for it all the heart she needed to go on?
Flash now to Tampa, Fl, the Sun Dome, the final minute’s ticking off the men’s USF Bulls teams’ basketball game, everyone celebrating. Look courtside though and you’ll see Danielle Starzynski slipping out of her seat and heading towards the exit. Dressed in designer jeans and a fancy jacket with a cell phone attached to her ear, she looks ready for a night out on the town. But instead of leaving the building, she makes a hard left into the locker room and re-emerges five minutes later in a cutoff bulls t-shirt and gym shorts.
Starzynski picks up a basketball and shoots her first three pointer. The janitors finish sweeping the trash out of the bleachers as she shoots free throws. Starzynski then begins to work on 15 footers.
“She does this all the time,” said Tommy Politi, one of the Sun Dome maintenance men, the one who holds the keys and has to close the gym whenever Starzynski leaves. Sometimes he’ll watch TV as he waits for Starzynski to finish. This time he just watched the kid work.
“We need a few more Dstars,” he said with a laugh. “Maybe a whole roster of them. Then we’d be really great. But this kid is something special.”
Even when times look hopeless for Starzynski all you have to do is watch her and see that this star has not given up, and it seems as though she never will. She might still be going through her off-court troubles and still struggling to find her place on this USF Bulls team, but the sophomore with the sweet jump shot is still convinced better days are coming. She is still shooting these practice shots every night she can, still shooting for something better.
“It’s been a rough couple of months, trying to adjust to this program and build it up to where we need it to be. For me personally it’s been a rough couple of years of basketball and trying to find my place,” Starzynski said. “I truly believe though that I will find my place eventually, I never let the little things stop me from doing what I do best and that’s play basketball. I’m gonna continue to put in the hard work that I’ve put in from day one and pray that things work out for me. You gotta learn to fight through everything if it’s what you really want, you gotta have thick skin in this game.”
So that’s what she keeps doing, even if she’s in it alone on some nights, even as the losses and problems away from the court keep piling up. Basketball will continue to be there for Danielle, even through all the ups and downs as she struggles through this bittersweet love affair she’s had with this game for so long. And she will continue to be there for basketball, aiming to give back what the game has given her, meanwhile showing off a talent that can only be explained as god-given. She knows that the world isn’t perfect and that life isn’t fair, but she seems determined to fight through it. Her heart wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Starzynski's Career Night Squeeze Bulls Past Orange, 88-79
The University of South Florida women’s basketball team headed to Central New York this weekend to take on Syracuse in a key BIG EAST Conference match-up Sunday afternoon at the Carrier Dome. The game pitted two teams that had struggled of late after getting out of the gate quickly at the beginning of the year.
USF, who was playing its fourth road game in its last six outings, took advantage of the opportunity to move up in the BIG EAST standings with an 88-79 win over the Orange. The victory improved the Bulls’ record to 17-7 and 4-6 in league play while Syracuse is 17-7 and 4-6 in the conference.
Danielle Starzynski had an impressive scoring night with 47 points while Jessica Lawson added 16 points in the win. This game marked the second consecutive game where Starzynski posted 40 or more points.
The Bulls jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead just over three minutes into the contest on back-to-back field goals by Jessica Lawson and a three-point play by Danielle Starzynski.
USF would continue to control the game pushing its lead to as many 11, twice, first on a three-pointer by Shantia Grace with 7:18 left in the half to make the score, 29-18, and then again at 6:32 on a trey by Starzynski with 6:32 left in the first stanza. Syracuse, however would get back into the game closing the last six minutes of the half on a 20-9 run to cut the lead to 2 at intermission.
The Orange had the opportunity to take the lead at the break; however, Erica Morrow hit just one of two free throws with 1.3 seconds left on the clock.
The Bulls came out in the second half scoring the first eight points of the game, and like the beginning of the first half, the second 20 minutes was spearheaded by the post players. Denson took a pass and connected on transition while Lawson scored the next two baskets, the first of which came off a Grace assist. Danielle Starsynski would cap the eight-point stretch hitting two free throws with 17:12 on the clock to make the score 46-38.
Syracuse would make another push to take its first lead of the game, 49-48, on a field goal with 12:56 left in the game. The lead, however, was short-lived as Lawson gave USF its edge back, 51-48, hitting a lay-up and getting fouled just 25 seconds later. She would miss the free throw.
The Orange would tie the game twice between the 11:30 and 10:29 mark, however could not take the lead the rest of the game.
In addition to Starzynski and Stokes hitting double figures in the win, USF also placed three other players in double-digits. Denson netted 14 points while Grace and Sepulveda each recorded 13 points.
Michael poured in 27 points while Chandrea Jones had 21 points in a losing effort.
Interviewers talked with Starzynski about her performance after the game and this is what she had to say, "I think we went out there and played hard tonight which is what we've been needing to do all season. We left it all out on the floor and didn't hold back. We knew this was a big game for us and we pulled it off. I knew i had to step up and be productive and i think i did that so i'm definitely happy with this win tonight."
The Bulls will get a week off, before their next game, to prepare for Seton Hall on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Sun Dome. Stay tuned for updates. GO BULLS!
USF, who was playing its fourth road game in its last six outings, took advantage of the opportunity to move up in the BIG EAST standings with an 88-79 win over the Orange. The victory improved the Bulls’ record to 17-7 and 4-6 in league play while Syracuse is 17-7 and 4-6 in the conference.
Danielle Starzynski had an impressive scoring night with 47 points while Jessica Lawson added 16 points in the win. This game marked the second consecutive game where Starzynski posted 40 or more points.
The Bulls jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead just over three minutes into the contest on back-to-back field goals by Jessica Lawson and a three-point play by Danielle Starzynski.
USF would continue to control the game pushing its lead to as many 11, twice, first on a three-pointer by Shantia Grace with 7:18 left in the half to make the score, 29-18, and then again at 6:32 on a trey by Starzynski with 6:32 left in the first stanza. Syracuse, however would get back into the game closing the last six minutes of the half on a 20-9 run to cut the lead to 2 at intermission.
The Orange had the opportunity to take the lead at the break; however, Erica Morrow hit just one of two free throws with 1.3 seconds left on the clock.
The Bulls came out in the second half scoring the first eight points of the game, and like the beginning of the first half, the second 20 minutes was spearheaded by the post players. Denson took a pass and connected on transition while Lawson scored the next two baskets, the first of which came off a Grace assist. Danielle Starsynski would cap the eight-point stretch hitting two free throws with 17:12 on the clock to make the score 46-38.
Syracuse would make another push to take its first lead of the game, 49-48, on a field goal with 12:56 left in the game. The lead, however, was short-lived as Lawson gave USF its edge back, 51-48, hitting a lay-up and getting fouled just 25 seconds later. She would miss the free throw.
The Orange would tie the game twice between the 11:30 and 10:29 mark, however could not take the lead the rest of the game.
In addition to Starzynski and Stokes hitting double figures in the win, USF also placed three other players in double-digits. Denson netted 14 points while Grace and Sepulveda each recorded 13 points.
Michael poured in 27 points while Chandrea Jones had 21 points in a losing effort.
Interviewers talked with Starzynski about her performance after the game and this is what she had to say, "I think we went out there and played hard tonight which is what we've been needing to do all season. We left it all out on the floor and didn't hold back. We knew this was a big game for us and we pulled it off. I knew i had to step up and be productive and i think i did that so i'm definitely happy with this win tonight."
The Bulls will get a week off, before their next game, to prepare for Seton Hall on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Sun Dome. Stay tuned for updates. GO BULLS!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Bulls Drop 71-56 Decision To Marquette
The University of South Florida Women’s Basketball team dropped another crucial BIG EAST Conference game falling to Marquette for the second time this season, 71-56 at the Sun Dome. The loss moves the USF to 16-7 on the season and 3-6 in league play.
The Bulls, who were coming off a big win at Rutgers on Saturday, had an opportunity to make a significant move in the BIG EAST standings with win over the Golden Eagles.
The two teams combined for nine ties and four lead changes in the first half while neither team led by more than seven in the first 20 minutes. Marquette would take its biggest lead of the half, 33-26, just prior to the intermission, and although the Bulls seemed within striking distance, they were despite shooting just 29.6 percent (8-27) from the floor in the first stanza.
The Golden Eagles defense came out strong in the second half scoring the first five points of the half and not allowing the Bulls to score until Danielle Starzynski hit a lay-up with 15:44 left in the game to make the score 38-28.
After Starzynski cut the lead to 10, USF would put together a 16-7 run to cut the lead to three, 45-42, whenStarzynski connected on two free throws with 10:01 left in the contest.
Marquette, however would ice the game with a 26-12 run over the final 10 minutes, a stretch that wasn’t helped by 6-13 shooting from the free throw line by the Bulls.
Starzynski displayed an amzing effort in her first game back after a 6 game suspension, scoring 43 points on the night, a new career high. Janae Stokes also added 11 points in the loss. Porche Grant grabbed 12 rebounds.
For the Golden Eagles, Angel Robinson poured in a game-high 30 points.
On the night, the Bulls shot just 32.7 percent (17-52) from the field and 52.9 percent (18-34) from the free throw line. They were also beaten on the boards being outrebounded 54-38, including 22-1 on the offensive glass.
Up next for the Bulls is a trip to Syracuse to take on the Orange on Sunday Feb. 8. Stay tuned for your updates and GO BULLS!
The Bulls, who were coming off a big win at Rutgers on Saturday, had an opportunity to make a significant move in the BIG EAST standings with win over the Golden Eagles.
The two teams combined for nine ties and four lead changes in the first half while neither team led by more than seven in the first 20 minutes. Marquette would take its biggest lead of the half, 33-26, just prior to the intermission, and although the Bulls seemed within striking distance, they were despite shooting just 29.6 percent (8-27) from the floor in the first stanza.
The Golden Eagles defense came out strong in the second half scoring the first five points of the half and not allowing the Bulls to score until Danielle Starzynski hit a lay-up with 15:44 left in the game to make the score 38-28.
After Starzynski cut the lead to 10, USF would put together a 16-7 run to cut the lead to three, 45-42, whenStarzynski connected on two free throws with 10:01 left in the contest.
Marquette, however would ice the game with a 26-12 run over the final 10 minutes, a stretch that wasn’t helped by 6-13 shooting from the free throw line by the Bulls.
Starzynski displayed an amzing effort in her first game back after a 6 game suspension, scoring 43 points on the night, a new career high. Janae Stokes also added 11 points in the loss. Porche Grant grabbed 12 rebounds.
For the Golden Eagles, Angel Robinson poured in a game-high 30 points.
On the night, the Bulls shot just 32.7 percent (17-52) from the field and 52.9 percent (18-34) from the free throw line. They were also beaten on the boards being outrebounded 54-38, including 22-1 on the offensive glass.
Up next for the Bulls is a trip to Syracuse to take on the Orange on Sunday Feb. 8. Stay tuned for your updates and GO BULLS!
Monday, February 2, 2009
60 Seconds with Danielle Starzynski
The USF newspaper plays a little game called 60 seconds with athletes and this weeks version was with none other than the USF Bull's own Danielle Starzynski. Check it out below:
What is your favorite basketball moment?
-DS: My favorite basketball moment definitely has to be in high school when we played one of our rivals morristown in the playoffs and they were talking smack the whole game about how they would beat us. It ended up being a really close game, we were down 2 with 6 seconds left so i ran up the court took the ball and drained a 3 won the game for us. I don't know why that stands out so much but it does.
What age did you start playing basketball?
-DS: I've been playing basketball ever since i can remember. I picked up a ball as soon as i can walk but competitively playing i was like 5.
Which teammate is the loudest?
-DS: Some of my teammates would probably say me but i don't think i'm that loud so im gonna go with Janae, she's just naturally loud.
What is your favorite TV show?
-DS: Hmm thats a rough one i got a few shows im fond of but i think im gonna have to say Grey's Anatomy. Love that ish.
What was your favorite subject in high school?
-DS: Gym hands down lol.
Who is your favorite basketball player?
-DS: My favorite of all time is Michael Jordan, greatest to ever play the game that man's a god in my eyes. Current player though is Allen Iverson i've loved him for a while now but Kobe and Lebron knock my socks off those guys are unreal.
What is your favorite sport besides basketball?
-DS: Football, i'd love to be a football player. I could see myself as a wide reciever, the next chad johnson or something what you think? (laughing).
Who is your favorite musical artist or group?
-DS: Weezy F. Baby please say the baby (laughing).
Who is your favorite actress?
-DS: I don't think i have a favorite but i love Lauren London, oh and Halle Berry.
Who is your favorite superhero?
-DS: Flash, dude is so quickk.
What is your nickname?
-DS: Most people call me Dstar. Holla (laughing).
What is your favorite hobby, besides playing basketball?
-DS: Shopping, i have a problem i shop way too much but i don't care i love it. That new movie confessions of a shopaholic yeah that's about me (laughing).
What is your favorite place in Tampa?
-DS: I love the beach, everyone i've been to theyre so nice, we don't have that icey water and smooth sand back home.
What's your favorite vacation spot?
-DS: I went to Hawaii and it was gorgeous so thats definitely my favorite but i still haven't been to Jamaica and i really wanna go.
If you weren't playing basketball what would you be doing?
-DS: If i wasn't playing basketball i'd probably be dead (laughing) no i'm joking i'd be a stripper. (Laughing) No i'm just kidding, honestly idk i'd probably own my own shoe store. Or i'd be a music producer.
Best present ever recieved?
-DS: Nobody buys me presents its terrible (laughing). No but the best present i ever recieved was from myself and i bought myself a pair of og jordan 13's the black playoff ones oh my god they're so sexy i still have them i dropped a lot of money on them but it was so worth it.
What can fans expect at a Bulls game?
-DS: They can expect entertainment. I, along with my team, go out there every night and play our hearts out and put on a show and we aim to entertain the fans and i think that's exactly what we do. It's a real fast paced dedicated style of basketball and we play hard everytime we go out there so if you enjoy basketball you'll love our game.
What is your favorite basketball moment?
-DS: My favorite basketball moment definitely has to be in high school when we played one of our rivals morristown in the playoffs and they were talking smack the whole game about how they would beat us. It ended up being a really close game, we were down 2 with 6 seconds left so i ran up the court took the ball and drained a 3 won the game for us. I don't know why that stands out so much but it does.
What age did you start playing basketball?
-DS: I've been playing basketball ever since i can remember. I picked up a ball as soon as i can walk but competitively playing i was like 5.
Which teammate is the loudest?
-DS: Some of my teammates would probably say me but i don't think i'm that loud so im gonna go with Janae, she's just naturally loud.
What is your favorite TV show?
-DS: Hmm thats a rough one i got a few shows im fond of but i think im gonna have to say Grey's Anatomy. Love that ish.
What was your favorite subject in high school?
-DS: Gym hands down lol.
Who is your favorite basketball player?
-DS: My favorite of all time is Michael Jordan, greatest to ever play the game that man's a god in my eyes. Current player though is Allen Iverson i've loved him for a while now but Kobe and Lebron knock my socks off those guys are unreal.
What is your favorite sport besides basketball?
-DS: Football, i'd love to be a football player. I could see myself as a wide reciever, the next chad johnson or something what you think? (laughing).
Who is your favorite musical artist or group?
-DS: Weezy F. Baby please say the baby (laughing).
Who is your favorite actress?
-DS: I don't think i have a favorite but i love Lauren London, oh and Halle Berry.
Who is your favorite superhero?
-DS: Flash, dude is so quickk.
What is your nickname?
-DS: Most people call me Dstar. Holla (laughing).
What is your favorite hobby, besides playing basketball?
-DS: Shopping, i have a problem i shop way too much but i don't care i love it. That new movie confessions of a shopaholic yeah that's about me (laughing).
What is your favorite place in Tampa?
-DS: I love the beach, everyone i've been to theyre so nice, we don't have that icey water and smooth sand back home.
What's your favorite vacation spot?
-DS: I went to Hawaii and it was gorgeous so thats definitely my favorite but i still haven't been to Jamaica and i really wanna go.
If you weren't playing basketball what would you be doing?
-DS: If i wasn't playing basketball i'd probably be dead (laughing) no i'm joking i'd be a stripper. (Laughing) No i'm just kidding, honestly idk i'd probably own my own shoe store. Or i'd be a music producer.
Best present ever recieved?
-DS: Nobody buys me presents its terrible (laughing). No but the best present i ever recieved was from myself and i bought myself a pair of og jordan 13's the black playoff ones oh my god they're so sexy i still have them i dropped a lot of money on them but it was so worth it.
What can fans expect at a Bulls game?
-DS: They can expect entertainment. I, along with my team, go out there every night and play our hearts out and put on a show and we aim to entertain the fans and i think that's exactly what we do. It's a real fast paced dedicated style of basketball and we play hard everytime we go out there so if you enjoy basketball you'll love our game.
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