Feb. 23, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Fresh off a 77-71 win against Tulane on Friday, the UCF women's basketball team returns to the court on Sunday to face No. 19/25 UTEP. Tip-off in the New UCF Arena between the Knights and the Conference USA-leading Miners is slated for 2 p.m. and the game will be carried live on UCFAthletics.com with Scott Adams.
The Knights (9-17, 2-11 Conference USA) have reached the nine-win plateau for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign with three games remaining in their 2007-08 regular season. Six UCF players scored in double figures on Friday night for the first time this season, led by freshman guard Chelsie Wiley's (Riviera Beach, Fla.) team-high 14 points. The Knights shot 80 percent (16-of-20) from the free-throw line in the game and made 12-of-14 clutch free-throws in the game's final 64 seconds.
Sunday's game is the final regular-season home game for UCF, and senior guard Amber Long (Irmo, S.C.) will be honored as part of the Senior Day festivities.
"We're looking forward to Sunday's game as a great opportunity for us," UCF head coach Joi Williams said. "UTEP is undefeated in conference play and we're looking at them as a team that is, right now, the benchmark in our conference. We've shown this year that we can play with any team in the conference. Sunday is a measuring stick for us and we're up to the challenge."
Freshman forward/center Tia Lewis (Poulan, Ga.), the nation' fourth-leading rebounder, leads the way for the Knights, averaging 12.2 points per game and 11.4 rebounds per game. She has led the team in rebounding on a squad-best 19 occasions and is the only Knight to start each of the team's 26 games this season. Freshman forward Emma Cannon (Rochester, N.Y.), who has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games, follows with 11.4 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Freshman guard Marshay White (Rochester, N.Y.), the team's assists leader, adds 11.2 ppg and 3.4 apg.
The Knights and Miners meet for the fourth time in school history with UTEP leading the all-time series 2-1. Last season, the Miners defeated UCF 69-56 in El Paso, Texas. The last time the two teams squared off in Orlando, the Knights notched a 51-46 win on Jan. 15, 2006.
The Miners (22-2, 13-0) are nationally ranked for the second consecutive week for the first time in school history. UTEP is on an 18-game winning streak and is coming off a 73-72 overtime win at Southern Miss on Friday night. That win clinched at least a share of the Conference USA regular-season title for the Miners and gave them the No. 1 seed in the upcoming league tournament.
The Miners rank first in five of the league's major statistical categories, including scoring margin with a +10.7 advantage and scoring defense by holding opponents to just 59.6 points per game.
Sophomore guard Jareica Hughes leads the team and ranks 10th in Conference USA with 13.0 ppg, while senior center Izabela Piekarska follows with 12.3 ppg. Hughes also ranks fourth in the league with 5.13 assists per game. Sophomore forward Timika Williams is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 6.9 rpg, which ranks 10th in the conference. Piekarska is the squad's second-leading rebounder with 6.3 rpg.
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 Miners meet for the fourth time in school history with UTEP leading the all-time series 2-1. Last season, the Miners defeated UCF 69-56 in El Paso, Texas. The last time the two teams squared off in Orlando, the Knights notched a 51-46 win on Jan. 15, 2006.
- With nine wins on the season, UCF has now bested its win total from each of the previous two seasons with three regular-season games remaining in the 2007-08 campaign.
- As a team, UCF ranks tied for first in Conference USA in rebound margin with a +4.2 edge on the boards. The Knights have out-rebounded their opponents in 16 games this season. They are also second in the conference in rebounding offense with 42.0 boards per game.
- UCF has held 24 of its 26 opponents this season to 50 percent shooting or less, including 15 of its last 16.
- The Knights have played at least two players in double-figure scoring in every game this season. Three or more UCF players have scored in double figures on 21 occasions this year, including a season-best six Knights in double digits on Friday vs. Tulane.
- 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.
- Freshman forward/center Tia Lewis is the only player to start in each of the team's 26 games this season.
- Lewis has charted seven or more rebounds in each of the team's 26 games this year.