Jan. 6, 2007
GREENVILLE, N.C. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's basketball team looks to return home with its first Conference USA victory as the Golden Knights finish their three-game road swing at East Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m.
The Golden Knights (5-10, 0-2 C-USA) need to bounce back from a 62-58 loss at Marshall on Friday night in Huntington, W.Va. Three UCF players finished the night scoring in double digits with seniors Francine Houston (Bradenton, Fla./Southeast HS) and Keunta Miles (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./South Broward HS) each contributed 14 points. Another senior, guard Celeste Hudson (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lyman HS) added 13 points, an effort that moved her into UCF's top 10 list for most points in a career.
Despite a game-high 20 points from senior center Cherie Mills, East Carolina fell to 6-9 overall and 1-1 in C-USA after dropping a 65-59 decision to visiting Southern Miss on Friday night. Mills remains atop the Lady Pirates' stat sheet in both points (14.3 per game) and rebounds (6.3 per contest).
UCF and East Carolina didn't meet on the hardwood before the Golden Knights joined C-USA in 2005. Last season, the Lady Pirates gained a 2-0 advantage in the series with a 68-63 win in Orlando and a 65-44 win in Greenville, N.C.
UCF head coach Gail Striegler and her East Carolina counterpart Sharon Baldwin-Tener share a common link as both earned Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year honors. Striegler was recognized in 2003 and 2005, while Baldwin-Tener won in 2002 when she guided the Mercer Bears. She came to ECU in the fall of 2002.
UCF returns home to play UAB on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. and Memphis on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets for home contests are available by calling (407) UCF-1000. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.