Jan. 17, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - For the first time since joining Conference USA, UCF (5-11, 3-0 C-USA) sits on the top of the league standings through three games of the season. Sitting at 3-0, head coach Joi Williams' Knights will look to keep it that way when they conclude a three-game road trip at Southern Miss (9-7, 2-1 C-USA) at 3 p.m. eastern on Sunday.
It was the conference opener just 15 days ago against the Golden Eagles that changed the course of the UCF season after going through one of the most difficult non-conference schedules in the country at 2-11. Hosting the team picked to win the league title, UCF used a 12-3 run early in the second half to take the lead Jan. 3 and held on for a 65-59 victory over Southern Miss on Jan. 3. Emma Cannon (Rochester, N.Y.) scored 18 points and had nine rebounds for the Knights in the win.
The momentum from that contest has carried over to the Knights' current road trip. UCF claimed victories at both Memphis and UAB last week and at 3-0 are the lone C-USA squad with an unblemished league mark. The squad has equaled its C-USA win total from 2007-08.
Southern Miss has rebounded well from the loss to UCF to prove why they were looked at highly entering the season. The Golden Eagles also won at both UAB and Memphis last week behind two double-doubles from junior Pauline Love.
Knights' fans can listen to a live audio internet broadcast beginning at approximately 2:40 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.
KNIGHTS NOTES
LAST TIME OUT
Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, Fla.) scored 18 of her 21 points in the second half as UCF defeated UAB 74-67 on the road to move to 3-0 in C-USA play.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Southern Miss leads the all-time series with UCF 12-1, but the Knights posted their first win over the Golden Eagles just 15 days ago with a 65-59 victory in Orlando on Jan. 3. UCF has never won in six games meetings in Hattiesburg.
PLAYING THE BEST
UCF's strength of schedule currently ranks 24th nationally, according to The College Basketball News women's basketball RPI ratings. The Knights' schedule ranked as the eighth-toughest nationally after non-conference play.
P-O-W TIMES TWO
On the strength of her 34-point, 20-rebound performance against Memphis on Jan. 8, Cannon became the second UCF player to win C-USA Player of the Week honors this season. Wiley became the first in the program's history on Dec. 22.
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.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Cannon is currently ranked in the top-30 nationally in a couple of major statistical categories. She is tied for 15th nationally in rebounds per game and is also 23rd in the country in field goal percentage, according to the latest NCAA statistics.
WHAT LEARNING CURVE?
Aisha Patrick (Rockledge, Fla.) has not shown any signs of being a freshman in C-USA play. She 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.
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.