Nov. 3, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's basketball team will finally get the opportunity to play its first game at the new UCF Arena when it hosts Rollins in an exhibition game Sunday afternoon. The game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. with parking and admission free for fans.
One of the finest facilities in the country, the 10,000-seat arena features numerous amenities, including luxury suites, club seating, a scoreboard with four video screens and several concession options.
Joi Williams is in her first season at the helm of the UCF women's basketball program after serving as the head coach at Murray State for four years. One of the top recruiters in the nation, Williams led Murray State to a 21-10 mark in 2006-07 and a trip to the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The 20-victory season was the first for the program in 18 years. The WNIT berth marked only the second postseason appearance in Murray State history.
The Knights return two players from last year's squad and welcome 11 newcomers, which includes nine freshmen. Senior Amber Long (Irmo, S.C.) played in 26 games in the 2006-07 season, averaging 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Junior Jackie Akers (Naples, Fla.) played in 29 games last season, recording 23 blocked shots and 16 steals. She averaged 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
A Division II institution, Rollins returns three starters from a 2006-07 team that went 24-7 and won the Sunshine Conference regular-season title.
Live stats will be available at www.UCFAthletics.com.
The Knights will open their regular-season schedule against Texas Tech at the new UCF Arena Nov. 9. The Black and Gold will play 15 games at home this season and will also host the Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship in March.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pics. -UCF-