Jan. 10, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF women's basketball team has taken full advantage of the clean slate given to it with the start of Conference USA play, and after winning their first two league games, the Knights(4-11, 2-0 C-USA) look to keep it rolling Saturday at UAB (6-9, 1-1 C-USA) at 7 p.m. eastern time. After an upset win over Southern Miss at home last Saturday, UCF passed its first league road test with a convincing 85-67 victory at Memphis Thursday night.
Knights' fans can listen to a live audio internet broadcast beginning at approximately 6:40 p.m. The audio broadcast, through Stretch Audio Internet, can be heard free of charge at http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/multimedia/ucf-wbb-stretch-sched.html. Fans can also access a live video stream via Knights' All-Access.
With the start the Knights are 2-0 in C-USA play for the first time since joining the league, and, along with Houston, UCF is one of just two unbeaten teams left in conference action.
Sophomore Emma Cannon (Rochester, N.Y.), in the top five in C-USA in both scoring (15.6) and rebounding, had one of the most dominant performances in school history Thursday, posting career-highs of 34 points and 20 rebounds in the win over Memphis. Cannon's play helped UCF to a 46-18 edge in points in the paint.
UAB enters the contest two days after dropping its C-USA home opener, 79-67, to visiting Southern Miss. Britney Jones and Fatiha Salaam scored 19 points apiece in the loss, and Jones leads the Blazers averaging 15.9 points per game. UAB allowed the Golden Eagles to shoot 54.1 percent from the field and were outrebounded by 19 boards.
KNIGHTS NOTES
? LAST TIME OUT: Cannon was dominant in posting career-highs with 34 points and 20 rebounds as UCF moved to 2-0 in C-USA play with a convincing 85-67 victory at Memphis.
? INSIDE THE SERIES: UAB leads the all-time series with UCF 10-1. The Blazers have won eight-straight games between the two teams, including all six played in C-USA play. In the teams' last meeting, UAB defeated UCF 68-63 in Birmingham on Feb. 28, 2008.
? PLAYING THE BEST: As of Sunday, Jan. 4, the Knights' schedule ranked as the eighth-toughest nationally, behind only Stanford, Tennessee, Illinois, Hartford, Michigan, Iowa and Oregon, according to The College Basketball News women's basketball RPI ratings. Not far behind, UAB's schedule ranked 18th nationally.
? SIMPLY DOMINANT: In the outing against Memphis, Cannon had recorded her seventh double-double by halftime with 16 points and 11 rebounds. She continued to finish with 34 points and 20 rebounds. It was the ninth time in school history and first since 1996 that a Knight pulled down 20 or more rebounds.
? AMONG THE NATION'S BEST: Even prior to that contest, Cannon ranked in the top-30 nationally in a couple of major statistical categories. She was ranked 29th in the country in field goal percentage and the 6-foot-2 forward was also 30th in rebounding. Updated NCAA statistics will be released Monday.
? IN THE PAINT: Led by Cannon, UCF had a 46-18 advantage in points in the paint against Memphis. On the season, the Knights lead that category 466-418.
? FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: UCF earned a couple of school firsts in dispatching Southern Miss last Saturday. It was the Knights' first win in 13 all-time meetings with the Golden Knights, and the victory also marked the program's first in four C-USA openers since joining the league. Each of the openers has been played against Southern Miss. The Knights added their first win in a C-USA road opener against Memphis.
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.