Dec. 19, 2009
By Andrew Gavin
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Milestones are in reach for numerous UCF players as the Knights are set to host Jackson State Sunday at 1 p.m. The biggest number to look for is 1,000 as junior Emma Cannon (Rochester, N.Y.) is just 17 points away from becoming the 12th member of UCF's 1,000-point club.
For head coach Joi Williams and the Knights, however, the most important number will be the score as UCF aims to end a four-game losing streak. Despite the losses, the Knights have been competitive, losing the first three by only seven combined points and most recently falling to sixth-ranked Florida State 70-58.
Cannon had game-highs of 16 points and 15 rebounds against FSU, and the Conference USA Player of the Year now has 983 points and 729 rebounds in her career. She is averaging 15 points and 10.7 rebounds this season.
Two of Cannon's teammates are also on the verge of milestones. Sophomore Aisha Patrick (Rockledge, Fla.), who has recorded a steal in 20-straight games, has 99 in her brief career. Junior Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, Fla.) needs just four threes to become the fourth player in school history to knock down 100 triples.
UCF will meet Jackson State for the first time in program history. The Tigers enter Sunday's contest at 1-6 on the season and having lost six-straight games. Freshman Rachel Jones is leading the team in scoring, averaging 10.3 points per game.
The contest will feature a live audio internet broadcast through Stretch Audio Internet, and it can be heard free of charge by CLICKING HERE. Scott Adams and Andrew Gavin will be on the call, with the broadcast set to begin at 12:45 p.m.
THE OPENING TIP
? THE SERIES: Sunday's meeting will be the first for UCF against Jackson State.
? UCF VS. THE SWAC: Jackson State will be the fourth team of the current membership of the Southwestern Athletic Conference to play against UCF. The game will be the eighth UCF has played against a SWAC school, and the Knights have a 2-5 record thus far. UCF is 1-3 against Appalachian State, 0-2 against Grambling State and 1-0 against Mississippi Valley State.
? INTENSE STRETCH: After playing just four games through the season's first month, tonight's game will finish a stretch of four games in just nine days for UCF. Following Sunday, the Knights will take nine days off for the holidays before returning home to host No. 4/4 Notre Dame on Dec. 29.
? START IT UP: Two members of the Knights' starting backcourt have lengthy current streaks of consecutive starts. Patrick started her 30th-straight game at FAU, and has now started 40 of 41 games in her career. Wiley made her 30th-straight start against the Crimson Tide on Monday.
? TOUGH SLATE: A year after playing one of the nation's most difficult non-conference schedules, UCF will again be challenged in 2009-10. The Knights' already played #24 MTSU, and the schedule also includes home games against ranked Notre Dame and Florida State teams. Notre Dame is currently third while FSU is ranked as high as seventh in one poll.
? LOOK OUT ABOVE: Cannon needs only 17 points to become the 12th member of UCF's 1,000-point club. At her current pace this season, Cannon will move much higher than 12th on the school's all-time scoring list. Is she stays at her current average, she finish the regular season with 1,253 points. That number would mean she had passed seven players on the scoring list and sit in fifth place. The top four players on the scoring list are: Tamika Coley (2,006), Susan Patz (1,587), Chariya Davis (1,517) and Yolanda Rhodes (1,322).
? OFFENSIVE GLASS CLEANER: Scoring will be the main focus of Cannon Sunday, but getting to the glass is where she excels the most. Cannon is currently averaging 10.7 rebounds per game to rank second in C-USA and tied for 20th in the country. An incredible 6.4 of her rebounds have come on the offensive end, ranking her first not only in the conference but also ranked fourth in the nation.
Season and single-game tickets are currently available with the UCF Ticket Office. Knight fans can purchase season tickets for each of the team's 14 home games for just $39. For more information on purchasing tickets, contact the UCF ticket office at (407) 823-1000.
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.