Feb. 21, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF women's basketball team returns to the New UCF Arena for its final regular-season home weekend beginning Friday when the Knights play host to Tulane. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will be carried live on UCFAthletics.com with Scott Adams.
The Knights (8-17, 1-11 Conference USA) are coming off a 78-69 loss at East Carolina last Sunday. Freshman guard D'Nay Daniels (Atlanta) scored a game-high 20 points, while freshman guard Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, Fla.) tied her career high with 16 points.
Freshman forward/center Tia Lewis (Poulan, Ga.), the nation's leader in double-doubles by a freshman with 14, leads the Knights and ranks 15th in the conference in scoring, averaging 12.3 points per game. Lewis leads the conference and ranks fourth in the nation in rebounding with 11.6 rebounds per game. Freshman forward Emma Cannon (Rochester, N.Y.) follows with 11.4 ppg and is fourth in C-USA with 8.9 rpg. Freshman guard Marshay White (Rochester, N.Y.) chips in 11.3 ppg and is tied for 12th in the league and tops on the squad with 1.72 assists per game.
As a team, UCF is tied for the Conference USA lead in rebound margin with a +4.2 edge on the boards. The Knights are third in the league in rebounding offense, averaging 42.1 rebounds per game, and have out-rebounded their opponents in 15 games this season. UCF has shown improved ball-handling in its last two outings, as the Knights are averaging just 12.5 turnovers per game in their past two contests - the best two-game average of the season.
"This is a big game for us on Friday against Tulane," UCF head coach Joi Williams said. "We played a great first half at East Carolina on Sunday, but we have to put it all together for 40 minutes to have a good chance to win. We've been working on getting better every time out and we're just taking it one game at a time. I'm pleased that we have done a much better job of taking care of the ball. We will have to focus on our defense and rebounding in order to be successful."
The Knights and Green Wave meet for the seventh time in school history with the all-time series tied at 3-3. UCF last defeated Tulane on Jan. 13, 2006 when it notched a 60-52 win against the Green Wave in Orlando. Last season in New Orleans, Tulane defeated the Knights 85-47. The Green Wave has won two of three meetings with UCF since the Knights joined Conference USA prior to the start of the 2005-06 campaign.
The Green Wave enters Friday's game with a 14-11 overall record and a 4-8 league mark. After dropping seven of its first eight Conference USA games to begin league play, Tulane has won three of its last four games, including a 73-69 win against Houston last Saturday. The Green Wave are one of the league's top teams in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 62.4 ppg. Tulane also ranks third in C-USA in assist-to-turnover ratio with a +1.64 ratio.
Junior guard Ashley Langford leads the Green Wave in scoring, averaging 11.4 ppg, which ranks 20th in Conference USA, while redshirt freshman forward Brittany Lindsey follows with 10.4 ppg and is tied for the team lead in rebounding with 6.1 boards per game, which ranks 14th in the league. Senior Alendra Brown also averages 6.1 rpg. Langford ranks third in Conference USA and 20th in the nation in assists with 5.5 dishes per game.
Following Friday's game, the Knights will return to the court on Sunday to play host to No. 19 UTEP. Tip-off on Senior Day Sunday is set for 2 p.m. Senior Amber Long (Irmo, S.C.) will be honored for playing her final home regular-season game in a UCF uniform.
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.
Quick Notes
- The Knights and Green Wave meet for the seventh time in school history with the all-time series tied at 3-3. UCF last defeated Tulane on Jan. 13, 2006 when it notched a 60-52 win against the Green Wave in Orlando.
- As a team, UCF ranks tied first in Conference USA in rebound margin with a +4.2 edge on the boards. The Knights have out-rebounded their opponents in 15 games this season. They are also third in the conference in rebounding offense with 42.1 boards per game.
- UCF has held 23 of its 25 opponents this season to 50 percent shooting or less, including 14 of its last 15.
- The Knights have placed at least two players in double-figure scoring in every game this season. Three or more UCF players have scored in double-figures on 20 occasions this year.
- The Knights lead Conference USA in double-doubles by a team with 25. Tia Lewis has notched a squad-best 14 double-dips on the year, while Emma Cannon has accomplished the feat 11 times this season.
- UCF is averaging just 12.5 turnovers per game in its last two outings - the best two-game stretch as far as ball-handling is concerned all season long.
- Freshman forward/center Tia Lewis is the only player to start in each of the team's 25 games this season.
- Lewis has charted seven or more rebounds in each of the team's 25 games this year.