Dec. 20, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After two close losses, the last one Friday night in overtime to an undefeated Wake Forest team, UCF plays the third of back-to-back-to-back games Saturday against Ole Miss. The game marks the second time UCF has faced an opponent from the Southeastern Conference this season. UCF played at Alabama on Dec. 3.
UCF should build on an impressive performance Friday night in the 82-75 loss to Wake Forest. Sophomore Angelica Mealing scored a career-high 19 points in the game, including a game-tying three with 17 seconds left in regulation. Facing a team that was forcing nearly 30 turnovers a game, UCF committed just 18 in 45 minutes of play.
Ole Miss comes in with a 7-3 record, but head coach Renee Ladner's team has dropped three-straight games entering Saturday. Ladner and UCF head coach Joi Williams were assistant coaches together at Florida under Carol Ross.
The Rebels are led by 6-3 Shawn Goff, a senior who enters averaging 14.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Goff also has 17 blocks in just seven games after missing the first three with an injury.
Sophomore Emma Cannon, on the heels of yet another double-double, continues to lead UCF, averaging 13.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Cannon had 18 points and 16 rebounds Friday against Wake Forest.
KNIGHTS NOTES
? LAST TIME OUT: The Knights' Angelica Mealing forced overtime with a late three, but visiting Wake Forest posted an 82-75 victory at UCF Arena. Mealing scored a career-high 19 points for UCF, and Emma Cannon scored 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.
? THE SERIES: Ole Miss holds a 3-0 edge in the all-time series against UCF. The last meeting came on Dec. 22, 2001, with the Rebels earning a 79-53 victory in a game that was also part of the UCF Holiday Classic.
? HOME AT LAST: The Knights returned home Thursday after 26 days away from UCF Arena, the longest stretch between home contests in terms of game since the same span in 2002-03. The team's last home game was Nov. 22 against Florida A&M. The six-game stretch between home games is the program's longest since an eight-game road trip in 1988-89.
? FINISHING TOUCH: UCF has led seven-straight games at some point during the second half, but the Knights have just one win to show for it. With a 50-point outburst in the second half against Jacksonville, the Knights pulled out their first win, 75-71, during that stretch.
? UCF VS. SEC: UCF will be looking for its first win all-time against the Southeastern Conference, dating all the way back to the program's inception. Heading into Wednesday's game, the Knights are 0-41 all-time against the SEC. UCF has played nine of the 12 programs in the SEC, and twenty-four of those losses have come against in-state rival Florida.
? COMEBACK KIDS: In both of UCF's victories this season, the Knights have come back from a significant deficit in the second half. The Knights used a 13-0 run to rally from 10 points down Monday at Jacksonville, and also trailed Florida Atlantic by 10 in the second half.
? OFF THE PINE: UCF did not have a single point off its bench in the first half Friday against Wake Forest, but sophomore D'Nay Daniels and freshman Ashia Kelly changed that in the second half, scoring a combined 17 points. Kelly had a career-high 10 points.
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.