Dec. 28, 2010
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Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After splitting two games in three days last week, the UCF women's basketball team will host Tennessee Tech (8-2) Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. The Knights (5-6) handled Jacksonville by 33 points, 92-59, last Monday before falling in the final minutes at Wright State, 73-65, on Wednesday.
Senior Guard Jelisa Caldwell (Macon, Ga.) stepped up her game in those two contests, earning her first Conference USA Player of the Week accolade for her efforts. She set a new career high with 30 points against Jacksonville and followed that up with her second-best scoring output at UCF with 21 against Wright State. She was the first UCF player in two seasons with 30 points in a game and became the first Knight since 2008-09 to score 20 or more points in back-to-back games.
Not to be outdone, senior D'Nay Daniels (Atlanta, Ga.) recorded her second double-double of the season against the Raiders. Daniels scored 16 points and added 10 rebounds in the contest, while she set a new UCF season high of 8-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Thanks in large part to the career-high five three-pointers from Caldwell, the Knights matched a season-high with 10 three-point field goals against the Raiders.
After missing the first eight games of the season recovering from injury, freshman Aarika Judge (Augusta, Ga.) is shaping to be a promising young player at UCF. At Wright State, Judge was 2-of-3 from long range in just six minutes of action.
Wednesday marks the final game of 2010 for the Knights. UCF will take on Valdosta State on Sunday, Jan. 2 at the UCF Arena at 2 p.m. in the final nonconference game of the 2010-11 regular season.
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.
Wednesday's Game
The Knights come into the game having lost 73-65 at Wright State in their most recent game. UCF is 5-6 overall entering the game, while Tennessee Tech is 8-2 overall and 3-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference. This is the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Scouting the Golden Eagles
TTU is currently on a three-game winning streak, including two OVC wins in the week leading up to its Holiday break. Tacarra Hayes in the only member of the Golden Eagles averaging in double figures in scoring this season; leading the way with 15.2 points per game. Hayes' 7.1 boards and 33.3 minutes per game are also team bests. Tennessee Tech has played one common opponent with UCF this season, falling to Middle Tennessee, 71-58, on Dec. 1.
Player of the Week
Jelisa Caldwell became the first UCF player this season to be named the C-USA Player of the Week for her efforts against Jacksonville and Wright State. Caldwell is the first UCF player to earn the award since Emma Cannon on Dec. 22, 2009. The Knights have claimed the C-USA Player of the Week leading up to the Christmas break in each of the last three seasons (Caldwell - 2010, Cannon - 2009, Wiley - 2008).
Double-D'Nay
Daniels remains the only UCF player to record a double-double this season. Her second of 2010-11 came at Wright State with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Daniels benefited from a career-game at the free-throw line, going 8-for-10 from the charity stripe. Of her 10 rebounds, seven came on the offensive glass. Daniels' other double-double was against Western Kentucky on Nov. 27 (17 pts, 10 rebs).
Two Years Waiting
Against Jacksonville, Caldwell became the first UCF player in two years to score 30 points in game. She followed that stellar performance with the second-best scoring output of her career with 21 at Wright State two days later. It marked the first time a UCF player had back-to-back games of 20-plus points in two seasons. It was also the first time that Caldwell had consecutive games in double figures since her freshman season.
From Downtown
The Knights matched a season high of 10 three-pointers against the Raiders. UCF saw Caldwell connect on a career-high five and freshman Aarika Judge go 2-for-3 from long range in the game.
Home Team
UCF remains a much better team when on its home court. The Knights are 3-1 this season in Orlando and just 1-5 in road contests. In those four games at UCF Arena, the Knights average nearly eight more points per game than their season average. UCF has outscored its opponents by an average of 16.5 points in those games as well.
Non-conference Contests
Coming into the game with five wins, the Knights have their most non-conference victories since the 2007-08 season. That year, the first for head coach Joi Williams at UCF, the Knights were 7-7 before heading into the C-USA schedule. UCF will wrap up its non-conference slate on Sunday, Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. against Valdosta State following the meeting with the Golden Eagles.
Leading the Way
Caldwell continues to lead the league in three-point field-goal percentage. Her .516 shooting (16-of-31) is the best in C-USA this season and is the only mark above .500 (minimum 25 attempts). Caldwell's .482 shooting from the field (41-of-85) ranks eighth overall in the conference.