Nov. 26, 2008
ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF women's basketball will get the Paradise Jam underway on Thursday afternoon with a tough test as the Knights will play No. 6/7 Baylor at 3:30 p.m. eastern time at the 4,000-seat UVI Sports and Fitness Center at the University of the Virgin Islands.
UCF fans unable to join the Knights in the Virgin Islands will have plenty of ways to keep up with the team on the trip through UCFAthletics.com. Check out the site for daily journals of the team's activities, photo galleries as well as game previews and recaps. As always, live audio broadcasts of UCF's games will be carried online with Scott Adams on the call.
Also, for more information about the 2008 Paradise Jam, including streaming video of games and press conferences, game stats and recaps and the tournament's history, check out www.ParadiseJam.com.
LAST TIME OUT: Playing the second game of a back-to-back, UCF led by 10 points in the first half before falling to Florida Atlantic 68-63. Chelsie Wiley led the Knights with 18 points and Emma Cannon added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
OFF THE MAINLAND: The last time UCF played off the mainland was in 2006 at the Junkanoo Jam in Freeport, Bahamas. Ironically, the Knights opened that tournament against a ranked Baylor squad. UCF fell to the 15th-ranked Bears 78-48.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: The UCF staff brings a wealth of Paradise Jam experience to the Virgin Islands. Williams was as assistant coach at Florida when the Gators played in the 2001 tournament. Assistant coach Courtney Locke won the Paradise Jam in 2004 as a guard .
UCF VS. THE BIG 12: The Knights are 1-9 all-time versus the Big 12, with the lone win coming off the mainland when UCF defeated Kansas 71-59 in the San Juan Shootout on Nov. 25, 2001. UCF opened the season against a Big 12 foe, falling at Colorado 86-59.
FIRST TIMER: For each of the Knights' first seven opponents this season, including all three foes in the Paradise Jam, head coach Joi Williams will be facing them for the first time in her head coaching career.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
One of the nation's elite teams, Baylor has been dominant through four games, winning by an average of 30.3 points per game. Baylor's dominance has started on the defensive end, where they are holding opponents to just 32.2 percent from field and forcing over 20 turnovers per outing.
Each of the Bears' five starters is averaging at least 8.8 points per contest, led by Rachel Allison's 17.5 points a game. Fellow senior Jhasmin Player (11.5), junior Danielle Wilson (11.3) and sophomore Melissa Jones (10.0) are also averaging at least 10 points per game.
The Bears have a significant edge in nearly every statistical catergory, but one area where they have struggled is at the line, where BU is shooting just 53. percent.
OPPONENT OF NOTE
Head coach Kim Mulkey's staff includes two others with head coaching experience, Leon Barmore (La. Tech) and Richard Barron (Princeton). Both Mulkey and Barmore have won national championships and been inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Baylor won the title under Mulkey in 2005 while Barmore led a Louisiana Tech team including Mulkey to the championship in 1988.
GAMECHANGER
If the last couple of games are any indication, the UCF bench could be pivotal for the Knights. Over the past two games, the UCF bench has averaged 26.0 points, including 32 against Florida Atlantic. Of the team's 52 bench points in that span, sophomore Marshay White (26) and Chelsie Wiley (22) have combined for 48.
KEY MATCHUP
A matchup to watch in Thursday's game is that of the power forwards. Baylor's Rachel Allison and UCF's Emma Cannon are both averaging a double-double so far this season. Allison, an Honorable Mention All-American in 2006-07, is posting 17.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and shooting 51.9 percent. After three-straight double-doubles, Cannon has averages of 17.3 points and 12.7 rebounds.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
The matchup pits two teams who have dominated glass early this season. Baylor is averaging 53.2 rebounds per game and has a plus-18.8 rebounding margin. Meanwhile, UCF has ripped down 48.7 boards per contest and has a plus-11.3 rebounding margin.
Season tickets for the UCF women's basketball program are currently on sale through the UCF ticket sales office. For more information about the arena's premium seating options, including club seats, group discounts, courtside tables and suites, contact the UCF ticket sales office at (407) UCF-1000 or visit the women's basketball ticket page at UCFAthletics.cstv.com/tickets/w-baskbl-tickets.html.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.