Nov. 19, 2004
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The UCF women's basketball team will open the 2004-05 season when they take on UNLV in Las Vegas, Nev. tonight at 10 p.m. eastern time. The Golden Knights are coming off two exhibition game victories over the Miami Suns and Team Reebok. UNLV is coming off the WBCA/BTI Classic in Seattle, Wash. where they finished one and one.
UCF is 13-14 all-time in season debuts, including a 3-2 mark under current head coach Gail Striegler on opening night. The last time UCF won its first game of the season was a 63-55 victory over Monmouth in 2002.
The Golden Knights defeated the Miami Suns 70-47 in the first exhibition game. In that game, junior Celeste Hudson landed a double-double after scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Senior Ali Roberts led the Knights in assists with five while also scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Sophomore Francine Houston came off the bench and scored 10 points and six rebounds while playing in 21 minutes.
In the second exhibition game, UCF defeated Team Reebok by a score of 45-39. Senior Takira Allen led the Knights in points with 13 while grabbing seven rebounds and one steal. Roberts led the team in rebounds by grabbing 10 while scoring seven points with one assist, four blocks and two steals.
The Golden Knights will take on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in Flagstaff, Ariz. on Monday, November 22 before heading home to Orlando. The first home game for the Knights will be Friday, November 26 when they take on the Southern Miss Eagles.