Dec. 14, 2010
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Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Currently in the midst of the longest break of the season, the UCF women's basketball team will return to the floor Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Tallahassee to take on No. 14 Florida State at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
The Knights (4-4) are in the middle of an eight-day break for finals after having last played on Dec. 7 against Middle Tennessee at the UCF Arena. Mounting a late comeback attempt, the Knights fell just short, 77-73, to the Blue Raiders.
The loss was the first at home this season for the team after winning the first two games in Orlando during the UCF Thanksgiving Classic in late November.
UCF and Florida State played last season at the UCF Arena. The Seminoles defeated the Knights, 70-58, on Dec. 16 with Jelisa Caldwell (Macon, Ga.) leading the way with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-2 from behind the arc.
Entering the game, the Seminoles are 8-1 this season and have won their last two games, including an 87-39 victory over Jacksonville State Sunday afternoon in Tallahassee. The team's only loss of the season came to Michigan State, 72-64, on Dec. 1. Cierra Bravard leads the Seminoles with 14.3 points per game, while also pulling down a team-best 8.1 rebounds per game.
After Wednesday's game, the Knights return to UCF Arena to play host to Jacksonville Monday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
UCF Knights (4-4)
at No. 14 Florida State Seminoles (8-1)
Donald L. Tucker Center - Tallahassee, Fla.
Wednesday's Game
UCF ends an eight-day hiatus with Wednesday's game at Florida State. The Knights last played on Tuesday, Dec. 7 against Middle Tennessee State; a 77-73 loss at the UCF Arena. The loss dropped the Knights' record to 4-4 this season.
Scouting the Seminoles
Florida State comes into the game with the Knights with an 8-1 mark this season after wins in each of their last two games. Sunday afternoon, the Seminoles pounded Jacksonville State by 48 points, 87-39. Cierra Bravard leads the team with 14.3 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per contest. Natasha Howard led FSU on Sunday, scoring a game-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while also pulling down a team-high seven rebounds against the Gamecocks.
Making Adjustments
After a season-high 19 first-half turnovers against the Blue Raiders, UCF corrected its ball-handling miscues in the second half, turning it over just once in the final period. The eight-day break used for final exams will also give the Knights time to correct the mistakes that have led to 41 turnovers in the last two games after just 18 in the previous two.
From the Line
The Knights were a season-best 28-of-34 from the free-throw line against MTSU. Only once before had UCF connected on at least 20 free throws in a game this season, going 20-of-27 at James Madison. The 28 made free throws is the most in a game in the last four years. Senior Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, Fla.) was 8-of-9 from the line, while junior Aisha Patrick (Rockledge, Fla.) was 7-of-9.
Four in Double Figures
Seniors Wiley, D'Nay Daniels (Atlanta, Ga.), Angelica Mealing (Decatur, Ga.) and junior Patrick all reached double figures in scoring in the Knights' last game. Wiley led the way with 17 points, while Daniels and Patrick each had seven rebounds. It was the first time since the season-opener at Florida that four players reached double figures in scoring.
Solid Performer
In a season-high 32 minutes of action, Mealing had a season-best 11 points and matched her best assist output of 2010-11 with four. Mealing now has four assists in three separate games this year. She also helped the Knights from the line, connecting on all five of her free-throw attempts in the game.
Three Down the Stretch
UCF failed to hit a three pointer in the first half against MTSU, but connected on three down the stretch in the final minutes. Jelisa Caldwell hit the first three of the game for UCF with 1:18 remaining. Junior Ashia Kelly (Longview, Texas) connected on a three-pointer of her own just 11 seconds later, before Wiley pulled her team to within two on her only trifecta of the game with 12 seconds left. The Knights now have at least one three-pointer in the last 25 games.
Sunshine State
Wednesday marks the fifth true road game of the season for the Knights. It also marks the third road game within the state of Florida after opening with the Gators on Nov. 13 and defeating FIU on Dec. 5.