Sanni, Davis Combine For 45 points As West Virginia Beats South Florida

Meg Bulger added 16 points for West Virginia

Jan. 5, 2008

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Olayinka Sanni scored 23 points and Sparkle Davis had 22, leading No. 17 West Virginia to a 79-73 win over South Florida on Saturday night in the Big East Conference opener for both teams.

Meg Bulger added 16 points for West Virginia (11-2). The Mountaineers, who have won eight of nine, were coming off a 79-66 loss to Indiana on Dec. 22.

Shantia Grace had 25 points for South Florida (10-4), which has lost two in a row following an eight-game winning streak.

Davis had six points during a 15-2 run that put West Virginia ahead 69-55 with 6 1/2 minutes left.

South Florida made it close late, using a 10-2 run to pull to 76-73 with 13.9 seconds remaining. Grace keyed the comeback try with four free throws.

Bulger converted two free throws and LaQuita Owens made one of two from the line in the final seconds of play to preserve West Virginia's victory.

The Mountaineers used 7-for-14 shooting from 3-point range to go up 35-31 at halftime. Davis, who made three of four from long range, had 11 first-half points.

South Florida, behind 10 points from Grace, trailed by one, 32-31, with three minutes left in the half.