Jan. 15, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Now over halfway through the 2008-09 regular season, Emma Cannon (Rochester, N.Y.) is showing Conference USA she wants nothing to do with a sophomore slump. The 6-foot-2 forward is not only the reigning C-USA Player of the Week after a dominant performance at Memphis last Thursday, but she is also establishing herself as a potential player of the year candidate in the league while helping the Knights to a 3-0 start to conference play.
Cannon was not one of the five players in the league picked to the preseason all-conference team after averaging 11.7 points and 8.7 rebounds a season ago as a freshman, but as the only player on UCF to start each of the team's 16 games, Cannon has improved her numbers across the board this season.
"The sky is the limit for Emma. She has definitely improved from the time she walked in here as a freshman until now," said head coach Joi Williams. "She understands the game better, she has learned a lot and she has really put what she has learned to use. In our non-conference schedule Emma was able to play against some very good post players, and with that she saw the little things she could get better at. Finishing was a big thing we challenged her on, and she is really focusing on doing that now."
Her hard work came to fruition in an 85-67 win at Memphis on Jan. 8 when she posted career highs with 34 points and 20 rebounds. The game was the most dominant played by a Knight since the program joined C-USA in 2005-06. The performance was also the first time a Knight had 30 or more and 20 or rebounds since Shantrice Saxon did so on Nov. 30, 1996. Saxon was also the last UCF player to grab 20 rebounds in a game.
The Memphis game is unquestionably Cannon's best of the season, but it is just one in a line of consistently strong performances. She has tallied double figures in points in 14 of 16 games, has 10-plus rebounds on eight different occasions and posted double-doubles in seven games. Her averages have hit 15.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per outing, and she is shooting 55.5 percent from the field and 77.6 percent from the line.
Among the conference's stat leaders, Cannon ranks in the top 10 in numerous statistical categories. She is sixth in scoring (15.5), fourth in rebounding (10.3), third in field-goal percentage (55.5), fourth in free-throw percentage (77.6), first in offensive rebounds (5.0) and sixth in defensive rebounding (5.3). Cannon is tied for 14th nationally in rebounds per game and is 26th in field-goal percentage.
"Of course winning conference player of the week is not easy, and it takes a lot of help from your teammates to do anything like that," Cannon said. "I can't settle for that, and we have 13 games left in this season, so we have to build on what we have started."
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE
With Houston's loss at UTEP Sunday, UCF is the lone team still undefeated in conference play. Historically, the 3-0 start to the C-USA season also gives the Knights a real head start to setting a new school record for wins since joining the league. The start is the first of its nature for the program, and the three wins tie the victory total of each of the previous two seasons. In its first season in the league, UCF went 5-11 in C-USA action.
WHAT LEARNING CURVE?
Freshman Aisha Patrick (Rockledge, Fla.) has not shown any indication that she will face any difficult adjustments in conference play. The guard has notched double figures in each of the team's three league games, averaging 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.3 steals.
RESERVE FUEL
Sophomores Marshay White (Rochester, N.Y.) and D'Nay Daniels (Altanta, Ga.) have spent the last few weeks adjusting to their new roles of coming off the bench for UCF. During Saturday's tough road game at UAB, the pair proved they can provide the Knights an important lift off the bench. In 46 combined minutes, White and Daniels scored 18 points and added 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
FEELING IT
Scoring 18 of her team-high 21 points in the second half in UCF's win over UAB, sophomore Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, Fla.) kept up her impressive play over the past month. In the last eight games spanning 27 days, Wiley has averaged 18.8 points per game and knocked down 55.6 percent (25-of-45) of her three-pointers. The 5-foot-7 Wiley leads C-USA in three-point percentage, shooting 48.3 percent.
RISING RPI
Ranked at 138, UCF currently has the third-highest RPI ranking in Conference USA according to the NCAA. Houston (92) and Tulane (96) are the only teams ahead of the Knights.
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.