Dec. 31, 2008
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Sophomore Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, Fla.) scored 24 points and Emma Cannon (Rochester, N.Y.) added 21 points for UCF (2-11), but Florida State (11-4) was too tough on its home court, dispatching the Knights 82-70 Wednesday afternoon in non-conference women's basketball action at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. The game was the final non-conference contest of the season for head coach Joi Williams' squad.
Florida State led by 12 points at the break and used a 16-2 quick spurt early in the second half to pull ahead to its biggest lead of the afternoon, 57-33, at the 15:19 mark. FSU's leading scorer, Jacinta Monroe, scored 11 of her 17 points after halftime to lead the FSU spurt.
The Knights turned up the defensive intensity, however, and over the final 15 minutes of the game outscored the host `Noles by 12 points. UCF closed the deficit to eight with 33 seconds remaining, but FSU put the game away with four from the charity stripe.
Wiley, the reigning Conference USA Player of the Week, posted double figures for the fifth-straight game and followed her 31-point outburst against Ole Miss with another strong game. The sophomore guard hit 8-of-17 from the field, including 3-for-9 from long range.
With the exception of Wiley, the UCF offense really struggled in the opening half in falling behind 35-23 at the break. Wiley had 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting, but her teammates combined to hit just 3-of-21 attempts from the field and score 11 points. The 23 points in the half marked the Knights' lowest first half total of the season.
Cannon scored 17 of her season-high 21 points after halftime and added five rebounds on the night. The 6-foot-2 forward battled down low with a pair of 6-foot-4 FSU players and hit 7-of-8 from the field and 7-for-8 from the line.
After shooting just 25.8 percent from the field in the first half, UCF knocked down 16-of-39 for 41.0 percent in the second half to score 47 points.
UCF was outrebounded 43-41 despite collecting 21 offensive rebounds in the game. Freshman Aisha Patrick (Rockledge, Fla.) led the Knights with seven boards, including five on the offensive end.
With the non-conference schedule in the books, UCF returns to action on Saturday to begin Conference USA play, hosting Southern Miss at UCF Arena at 2 p.m.
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.
Newspaper Box Score
UCF vs Florida State
12/31/08 2:00 PM at The Tucker Center (Tallahassee, Fla.)
At The Tucker Center (Tallahassee, Fla.)
FLORIDA STATE 82, UCF 70
UCF (2-11)
Wiley, Chelsie 8-17 5-8 24; Cannon, Emma 7-8 7-8 21; Kirkpatrick, Amber 4-11 3-4 11; Patrick, Aisha 2-12 2-3 6; White, Marshay 1-9 2-2 4; Daniels, D'Nay 2-4 0-0 4; Paige, Leah 0-0 0-0 0; Kelly, Ashia 0-1 0-0 0; Mealing, Angelica 0-8 0-0 0. Totals 24-70 19-25 70.
FLORIDA STATE (11-4)
Davis-Cain, Tanae 7-11 2-2 19; Monroe, Jacinta 7-10 3-3 17; Harvin, Alysha 4-11 4-4 13; Freshour, Mara 2-5 4-4 9; Ward, Courtney 2-7 3-5 8; Bravard, Cierra 2-4 4-6 8; Gray, Angel 3-4 0-1 6; Hunnicutt, Christian 1-6 0-0 2; Keough, Kayli 0-2 0-0 0; Moore, Cayla 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 28-62 20-25 82.
UCF............................... 23 47 - 70
Florida State..................... 35 47 - 82
3-point goals--UCF 3-16 (Wiley, Chelsie 3-9; Kirkpatrick, Amber 0-2; White, Marshay 0-2; Mealing, Angelica 0-3), Florida State 6-15 (Davis-Cain, Tanae 3-5; Freshour, Mara 1-4; Harvin, Alysha 1-2; Ward, Courtney 1-3; Hunnicutt, Christian 0-1). Fouled out--UCF-None, Florida State-None. Rebounds--UCF 41 (Patrick, Aisha 7), Florida State 43 (Gray, Angel 11). Assists--UCF 12 (Mealing, Angelica 4; White, Marshay 4), Florida State 21 (Ward, Courtney 7). Total fouls--UCF 21, Florida State 22. Technical fouls--UCF-TEAM, Florida State-None. A-2042
Notes
- Emma Cannon scored in double figures for the 11th time in 13 games this season. With 21 points, Cannon bested her previous season high of 19 points at Colorado on Nov. 16.
- Chelsie Wiley scored in double figures for the fifth-straight game and posted 20 or more for the third time in the past four contests.
- Sophomore transfer Amber Kirkpatrick tallied 11 points to finish in double figures for the first time in a UCF uniform. Kirkpatrick was playing her fifth game since being cleared prior to the Jacksonville game on Dec. 15.
- The Knights played on New Year's Eve for the fourth-straight year and 11th time in the program's history. UCF moves to 3-8 all-time on New Year's Eve.
- Florida State holds a 13-2 edge in the all-time series.
- The Knights are 191-167 all-time against teams from the Sunshine State. The Knights played six schools from Florida this season, finishing with a 2-4 record.