WASHINGTON (AP) - Kitija Laksa scored 27 points, Maria Jespersen added 25 and No. 17 South Florida held off George Washington 83-78 on Saturday.
Laura Ferreira added 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals for the Bulls (7-1). Laksa knocked down five 3-pointers, giving her 35 on the season for second in the country, and Jespersen went 11 of 15 from the field with 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season.
The Colonials (3-5) trailed 42-35 at halftime but kept battling back from small deficits and tied the game at 67 on a Lexus Levy 3-pointer with 6:27 to play. But Laia Flores answered with a jumper and Laksa hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put USF up 75-67 with 4:25 remaining.
People were interested in these podcasts
George Washington kept the pressure on but the Bulls made six free throws in the final minute, four by Laksa, to hold on.
Brianna Cummings had a career-high 23 points for the Colonials.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.