Feb. 2, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
UCF KNIGHTS
Record: 8-12, 1-6 C-USA
Ranking: NR/NR
Last Game: Lost to Marshall 77-75 OT (H)
Coach: Joi Williams (USF, `88)
Overall Record: 62-73 (5th Season)
Record at UCF: 8-12 (1st Season)
Record vs. East Carolina: 0-1
Series Record: East Carolina leads 4-0
EAST CAROLINA LADY PIRATES
Record: 9-11, 3-4 C-USA
Ranking: NR/NR
Last Game: Def. Southern Miss, 86-70 (A)
Coach: Sharon Baldwin-Tener (Georgia, `97)
Overall Record: 150-112 (10th Season)
Record at East Carolina: 83-83 (6th Season)
Record vs. UCF: 4-0
The UCF women's basketball team will look to regroup from a heartbreaking overtime loss to Marshall when it plays host to East Carolina on Saturday. Tip-off in the New UCF Arena is slated for 5 p.m. EST and the game will be carried live on UCFAthletics.com with Scott Adams on the call. The game is being held in conjunction with National Girls and Women in Sports Day
The Knights (8-12, 1-6 Conference USA) are coming off a 77-75 loss to the Thundering Herd in overtime on Thursday night. Freshman guard Angelica Mealing nailed an off-balance three-pointer from just inside halfcourt to tie the game in regulation and send it into overtime, but Marshall out-scored UCF 11-9 in the extra period. Freshman forward Emma Cannon led the Knights with 19 points and 12 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season to complement three blocks.
UCF is led by freshman forward/center Tia Lewis, the nation's third-leading rebounder, who is tied for the league lead in double-doubles with 13. Lewis averages 13.0 points per game and 12.1 rebounds per game. Cannon follows with 11.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg, while freshman guard Marshay White chips in 10.6 ppg.
PROBABLE STARTERS
UCFG - 2 D'Nay Daniels (5-10, Fr.) 9.9 ppg, 3.8 rpgG - 11 Amber Long (5-6, Sr.) 1.3 ppg, 1.0 rpgC - 32 Jackie Akers (6-2, Jr.) 2.7 ppg, 3.4 rpgF - 33 Marshay White (5-6, Fr.) 10.6 ppg, 3.4 rpgF - 42 Tia Lewis (6-3, Fr.) 13.0 ppg, 12.1 rpg
East CarolinaG - 2 Allison Spivey (5-10, Fr.) 7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpgG - 3 Jasmine Young (5-5, Jr.) 14.6 ppg, 3.8 rpgG - 25 LaCoya Terry (5-10, Jr.) 14.9 ppg, 4.6 rpgG - 45 Gabriela Husarova (6-1, So.) 5.9 ppg, 3.6 rpgF - 41 Nicole Days (6-0, Sr.) 6.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://ucfknights.com/http:%3E%3C/pre%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cu%3ESCOUTING%20THE%20LADY%20PIRATES%3C/u%3E%3C/strong%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3C/p%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cul%20class="noindent"> East Carolina brings a three-game win streak into Orlando for Saturday's game after the Lady Pirates defeated Southern Miss, 86-70, on Thursday night. The win streak for ECU, which is 9-11 overall and 3-4 in Conference USA play, comes after the Lady Pirates dropped their first four consecutive league games this season. Junior guard LaCoya Terry leads the way for ECU, averaging 14.9 ppg. She scored a season-high 27 points vs. Southern Miss on Thursday, going 10-of-14 from the field. Fellow guard Jasmine Young adds 14.6 ppg, while senior forward Nicole Days is the team's leading rebounder with 7.5 boards per game.
Series Record
- The Knights and Lady Pirates meet for the fifith time in school history on Saturday with ECU holding a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series. the two teams last met on Feb. 24, 2007 in the UCF Arena, a 76-57 win by East Carolina. This is the first of two meetings between the two teams this season as they will again square off on Feb. 17 in Greenville, N.C.
The Coaches
- UCF - Joi Williams is in her first season at the helm of the UCF program and the Golden Knights are 8-12 through 20 games. Williams comes to UCF after a successful career at Murray State University (Murray, Ky.), where she turned around the Racers program and led the team to a 15-5 Ohio Valley Conference record her final season and an appearance in the Women's NIT.
- East Carolina- Sharon Baldwin-Tener is in her sixth season as head coach at East Carolina after three seasons at the helm of Life University and one year as the head coach at Mercer. She is 150-112 overall in 10 seasons of coaching and holds an 83-83 record in leading the Lady Pirates.
GAME NOTES
Four-Game Homestand a Rarity for UCF Basketball
- When the UCF women's basketball team takes the court on Saturday, it will be tipping off the second game of a rare four-game conference homestand that includes home contests against UAB and Memphis next week.
It marks just the second time since the team joined Conference USA prior to the 2005-06 campaign that the Knights will play host to four consecutive C-USA games. The Knights played four straight league contests during the 2005-06 season, spanning from Jan. 13, 2006 to Jan. 22, 2006. UCF went 2-2 during that stretch.
In the program's history, beginning with the 1977-78 season, UCF has only played four consecutive conference home contests on five occasions. Those homestands included stints in the New South Women's Athletic Conference and the American South Conference.
Twenty Games, 11 Starting Lineups
- With 11 newcomers on the 2007-08 roster, the Knights have been searching for consistency in the starting lineup this season. In 20 games this year, Coach Joi Williams has used 11 different starting lineups with Tia Lewis being the only constant during that span. Here is the breakdown:
- Texas Tech: Cannon, Lewis, Mealing, Wiley, Caldwell (1)
- Coppin State: Cannon, Lewis, Mealing, Wiley, White (2)
- North Florida: Cannon, Lewis, Wiley, Caldwell, White (3)
- Rider: Cannon, Lewis, Wiley, Caldwell, White (3)
- La Salle: Cannon, Lewis, Daniels, Wiley, White (4)
- Bethune Cookman: Cannon, Lewis, Daniels, Wiley, White (5)
- Miami (Fla.): Cannon, Lewis, Daniels, Wiley, White (5)
- Florida Gulf Coast: Cannon, Lewis, Daniels, Caldwell, White (6)
- Southeastern Louisiana: Cannon, Lewis, Daniels, Mealing, Caldwell (7)
- Appalachian State: Cannon, Lewis, Daniels, Mealing, Caldwell (7)
- UNC-Greensboro: Cannon, Lewis, Mealing, Wiley, White (2)
- Stetson: Cannon, Lewis, Daniels, Wiley, White (5)
- Southern Miss: Cannon, Lewis, Daniels, Wiley, White (5)
- SMU: Daniels, Mealing, Wiley, White, Lewis (8)
- Tulsa: Lewis, Akers, Daniels, Wiley, White (9)
- Houston: Lewis, Akers, Daniels, Wiley, White (9)
- Rice: Lewis, Akers, Daniels, Long, White (10)
- Southern Miss: Lewis, Akers, Daniels, Long, White (10)
- Marshall: Lewis, Akers, Long, Wiley, White (11)
Hold `Em Defense, Hold `Em
- One of the main reasons that Coach Joi Williams' team has been successful this season is the fact that the Knights have turned up the defensive intensity. UCF has held 19 of its 20 opponents this season to 50 percent shooting or less.
- The Knights have held 11 opponents to under 40 percent shooting and have limited six of their last nine opponents to 45 percent shooting or less.
- UCF is 5-0 this season when holding its opponents to 60 points or fewer.
Trends of the Wins
- In eight wins this season, UCF is averaging 72.1 ppg, while holding its opponents to 57.1 ppg. The Knights' scoring margin in their wins is +14.5. In 12 losses this season, UCF is averaging just 64.9 ppg, while allowing its opponents to score 76.2 ppg. The Knights' scoring margin in their losses is -11.3.
- In eight wins this season, UCF is averaging 47.9 rebounds per game and wining the rebound margin by +13.6 boards per game. In 12 losses, the Knights are averaging 40.2 boards per game with a +2.4 rebound margin.
- In eight wins, UCF is averaging 20.5 turnovers, while giving up 24.3 turnovers in 12 losses.
- In eight wins, the Knights are coming up with 9.3 steals per game, while coming up with just 8.3 swipes in 12 losses this season.
- In eight wins this season, UCF is shooting 44.3 percent from the floor. In 12 losses, the Knights are connecting on just 39.8 percent of their shots.
- In eight wins, the Knights are limiting their opponents to just 35.1 percent shooting. In 12 losses, UCF has allowed its opponents to connect on 43.9 percent of their shots.
A Change Will Do You Good
- UCF women's basketball team's numbers are way up from year ago, which is making a difference in the win column for the Knights. Through 19 games this year, the Knights have increased their scoring by 9.6 points per game and their rebounding by 6.0 boards per game. The rebound margin has improved by nearly seven boards per game.
Lewis, Cannon Causing Double Trouble for UCF Opponents
- Freshmen Emma Cannon and Tia Lewis have been prolific this season at racking up double-doubles. Lewis is tied for first in Conference USA with 13 double-doubles while Cannon is fourth in the league with nine double-dips. UCF leads all schools in the league with 22 total double-doubles on the year. The pair have combined to record double-doubles in the same game on six occasions this season. According to an unofficial poll by conference sports information directors, Lewis is the nation's leader in double-doubles by a freshman.
Cannon, UCF Bench A Spark in Last Four Games
- Strong bench play has been a key factor for UCF in each of its last four games. During that span, the Knights' reserves have outscored the opponent bench 127-74. UCF's bench has outscored the opponent reserves 12 times during the course of the season.
- One of the main reasons for UCF's recent bench success is freshman forward Emma Cannon. Cannon, who has started 14 games for the Knights this season, has come off the bench in the Knights' last five outings, thrice leading the team in scoring during that stretch. Cannon had a team-high 20 points and 15 rebounds vs. Houston on Jan. 17 and led three UCF players in double figures against Southern Miss with 12 points and seven boards. She had a game-high 19 points and 12 rebounds vs. Marshall on Thursday night.
Tia Lewis Ranks Third in the Nation in Rebounding
- Freshman forward/center Tia Lewis currently ranks third in the nation in rebounding, according to the latest national statistics released Tuesday by the NCAA offices in Indianapolis, Ind. Lewis also ranks 19th nationally in field-goal percentage and is the only Conference USA player to rank in the top 19 of two national statistical categories.
- Lewis averages 12.1 rebounds per game this season and is one of only two players in Conference USA to average double-figure boards. She has recorded double-figure rebounds in 16 of the team's 20 games this season, including nine of the last 10 contests and 14 of her last 16. Lewis has been the team's leading rebounder in 14 games this season.
- Lewis, who is the league's leading rebounder, is the only C-USA freshman to rank in the conference's top 11 in both scoring and rebounding. She averages a squad-best 13.0 ppg as one of three Knights who average in double-figure scoring.
Akers Hosts Block Party for UCF Opponents
- Junior center Jackie Akers, one of two veterans on this year's squad, sat out nine games earlier this season due to injury, but since she has returned, the Cape Coral, Fla., native has been hosting a block party for UCF opponents. Despite playing in just 11 of the team's 20 games this season, Akers leads the team in blocks with 1.8 rejections per game. Akers has posted at least two blocks in six consecutive games, and has recorded three or more rejections in three of the team's last six games.
"Three Mania"
- UCF has hit a three-pointer in 16 consecutive games and 18 of 20 contests this season. The Knights have connected on six or more three pointers on seven occasions this season, including a season-high eight treys against Miami on Dec. 2, 2007.
UCF will play host to the 2008 Conference USA Women's Basketball Tournament, March 6-9, at the new UCF Arena. Single-game and session ticket packages are now available. Call the UCFAA Ticket Sales Office at 407-823-1000. 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 pictures.