Dec. 19, 2010
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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With the holidays just around the corner, the UCF women's basketball team is set to take on in-state rival Jacksonville on Monday night at the UCF Arena in its final home contest before the break.
The Knights are coming off a road loss at Florida State in their last game out on Wednesday night. Returning home to the UCF Arena where the team is 2-1 this season, the Knights will look to get back to .500 with a non-conference win Monday.
These two teams met last season in Jacksonville with UCF prevailing, 84-68. The Knights are 10-6 all-time against the Dolphins, including owning a 4-2 mark in Orlando.
Jacksonville comes into the game having defeated ACC foe Wake Forest, 72-66, on Friday night to improve to 6-3 this season. Four JU players scored in double figures, led by Crystal Bell with 16 points. Gigi Thomas posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
Following the matchup with the Dolphins, the Knights head back out on the road to take on Wright State Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio, before a week-long break for the Holidays.
Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 - 7 p.m.
UCF Knights (4-5)
vs. Jacksonville Dolphins (6-3)
UCF Arena - Orlando, Fla.
Monday's Game
UCF comes into Monday's game with Jacksonville with a 4-5 record following its loss Wednesday night in Tallahassee against Florida State. The Knights will play just their fourth home game of the season and their first in nearly two weeks when they take the floor Monday night.
Scouting the Dolphins
Jacksonville enters the contest having won its most recent game, 72-66, over ACC foe Wake Forest on Friday night. That win snapped a two-game skid by the Dolphins with losses to FIU and Florida Gulf Coast. The 51-point loss, 98-47, to FGC snapped the team's five-game win streak. Gigi Thomas leads the team with 11.4 ppg, while Lynsey Paschal is second with 11.2 ppg.
College Debut
After missing the first eight games of the season, freshman Aarika Judge (Augusta, Ga.) made her college debut Wednesday at Florida State. Although, she didn't score a point, Judge played 10 minutes off the bench in her first game in a UCF uniform.
Stellar Senior
One of the bright spots against the Seminoles was the play of senior D'Nay Daniels (Atlanta, Ga.). The fourth-year post player finished with a game-high 17 points, while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. Daniels did that in just 18 minutes of play after getting into early foul trouble, but overcame those limited minutes in the first half to play well down the stretch.
Second-Half Scoring
Junior Aisha Patrick (Rockledge, Fla.) was second on the Knights in scoring at FSU, finishing with nine points. All of those points came in the second half after being shut out through the first 20 minutes. Patrick also finished second on the team in rebounds in the game with seven.
Double Threat
When either Daniels or fellow senior Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, Fla.) has an off-game, the other is there to pick up the slack. Wiley, the team leader in scoring with 14.9 ppg, scored just six points at FSU, while Daniels (13.4 ppg) came on strong in the second half and led all players with 17 points. Wiley has led the Knights in scoring in four games and Daniels has done so in two others this season.
Road Woes
UCF still has just the one road victory this season, coming Dec. 5 at FIU, 74-65. The Knights are 2-4 in games away from Orlando this season with the win against the Panthers and a neutral-site victory over Iona in the Preseason WNIT Consolation Round at James Madison on Nov. 19.
Last Time Against the Dolphins
Patrick helped lead the Knights to an 84-68 win last season over the Dolphins at Swisher Gymnasium. Her 21 points came on 7-of-10 shooting and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. She also had team highs of four assists and three steals in the win. Wiley and Daniels also added 10 points apiece in the game.
Block Party
Freshman Erika Jones (Phenix City, Ala.) became the first UCF player this season to post multiple blocks in a game when she sent back two shots at FSU. Recording a block in each half, Jones became the first player to have more than one in any game this season, while also recording the first two of her career.
Home Cooking
This season the Knights have played very well at the UCF Arena. Outscoring opponents by an average of 11.0 ppg (72.7 to 61.7), the team is 2-1 in home games this season. UCF also have shot .405 from the field at home, while holding opponents to just .374 shooting. Both of those figures are reversed when the team plays on the road this season as they are outscored (69.8 to 64.8) and outshot (.416 to .376).
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now as well with season ticket packages starting at just $39. Fans can purchase tickets online here or by calling (407) UCF-1000.