Dec. 9, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After spending numerous days on the road in the past three weeks since starting the season at Colorado, the UCF women's basketball team finally gets some extended time on campus this week as the Knights take seven days off from game competition for finals week.
After three games in the U.S. Virgin Islands and trips to both Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast, UCF concludes a six-game stretch of games away from home with a game at Jacksonville Monday at 7 p.m.
When UCF returns home on Thursday, Dec. 18 to host Miami at 7 p.m., 26 days will have passed between Knight home games.
The Knights will enjoy returning to their own floor in front of the home crowd, but the players indicate they have learned a lot from being on the road, both on and off the court.
"The best part about being on the road is getting to know your teammates better, especially those who we do not live [in the same apartments] with on campus," said sophomore Chelsie Wiley. "It helps us get closer as a team."
FAST LEARNER
Freshman Aisha Patrick has quickly been getting accustomed to college basketball. In the first eight games of her career, Patrick has played 35-plus minutes in six games, including the Knights' last five contests. Averaging 34.1 minutes per game, Patrick is leading UCF and is third in Conference USA in minute per game. The Rockledge, Fla., native's play has earned her the minutes as Patrick is currently averaging 7.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 steals per outing.
CLEANING UP
Sophomore Emma Cannon has been tremendous on the glass this season, averaging 10.3 rebounds per game to rank fourth in C-USA. Foul trouble has limited Cannon's minutes of late, and in the past two outings the Rochester, N.Y., native has ripped down 21 rebounds in a combined 40 minutes. She has been especially prolific on the offensive glass, with 42 of her 82 total rebounds coming on that end of the floor. Her 5.3 offensive rebounds per game lead the league. She has converted many of those opportunities into second-chance points as Cannon currently leads the team and is tenth in the league averaging 13.4 points a game.
CHARITY STRIPERS
High school teammates Cannon and Marshay White, who have played basketball together since the seventh grade in Rochester, N.Y., have both been shooting the ball extremely well from the foul line this season. Cannon has converted 31 of her team-leading 41 attempts and ranks ninth in the league at 75.6 percent. White, averaging 9.5 points off the bench, is tenth in C-USA at 75 percent after hitting 18-of-24 free throws.
DOUBLE YOUR FUN
Through eight games this season, seven different UCF players have scored in double figures on at least one occasion. Cannon has accomplished the feat seven different times and White is second on the team with four such performances.
GAME CHANGE
There has been a change in the schedule of the UCF Holiday Classic from Dec. 19-21 at UCF Arena. The Knights will play Wake Forest on Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. before hosting Ole Miss the following day at 5 p.m. The tournament concludes with Ole Miss and Wake Forest doing battle on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. The UCF-Ole Miss game was originally scheduled for Sunday while the Wake Forest-Ole Miss has been moved from Saturday to Sunday.
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.