USF women's basketball will celebrate its 50th anniversary season Wednesday night when the Bulls face Houston on Senior Night in the final regular-season game at the Yuengling Center. USF players will honor the occasion by wearing throwback uniforms, similar to the team garb from the 1970s. In this story adapted from the upcoming book, "Golden Bulls: 50 Seasons Of USF Women's Basketball,'' we learn about the program's infancy and origins.
Jennifer Merritt, a sharp-shooting guard, remembers being unable to sleep. She was too excited. It was Feb. 25, 1978 and the 6-year-old USF women's basketball program had just won a state championship.