March 19, 2011
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio (UCFathletics.com) - Just after UCF's women's basketball team met at center court for the final time of the season, UCF Athletics Director Keith Tribble rose to his feet and applauded, knowing the program is headed in the right direction.
UCF's stirring late-season run came to an end Saturday in the first-round play of the NCAA Tournament when it lost 80-69 to fourth-seeded Ohio State. The Buckeyes had a big size advantage at practically every position and had the luxury of playing on its own campus, but UCF fought throughout and put a second-half scare into the heavy favorites. UCF was within five points late in the second half and got within eight in the final two minutes, bringing a big smile to Tribble's face.
``It was indicative of the character of these young ladies and they were always fighters,'' Tribble said. ``Most of the time they played against teams bigger than them, but they knew if they worked hard that good things would happen. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, time ran out on us (against Ohio State). We played a very good team and it just wasn't meant to be.''
Thirteen-seeded UCF hit the NCAA Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation, winning its final 11 games. The Knights won the Conference USA Championship in El Paso, Texas, last week by winning three times in three days.
But the Knights were unable to pull off the upset on Saturday because Ohio State All-American center Jantel Lavender scored 30 points. And UCF compounded its problems by turning the ball over 18 times. But that did little to overshadow an effort on Saturday where UCF kept coming at the Buckeyes throughout the day.
``I'm proud of them and proud of what this team accomplished and the foundation that they established for women's basketball and the future of UCF,'' Tribble said.
Tribble said the Knights' ability to win two C-USA championships and reach two NCAA Tournaments in the past three seasons is a legacy that will be imprinted at UCF for years to come. UCF's five seniors - D'Nay Daniels, Chelsie Wiley, Jelisa Caldwell, Leah Paige and Angelica Mealing - helped take the program to new heights.
Tribble said that the direction that head coach Joi Williams and associate head coach Greg Brown have the program gives him great delight.
``Joi is doing it the right way and she's building it the right way. She has great kids in the program and the things that she and her staff are putting together for them athletically, academically and their lives, it's exactly what we're looking for,'' Tribble said. ``I'm excited for them and the future. I just want the five seniors that we have to know how important that they have been to the program and they've established a foundation that will be here for a long time.''
==== John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFathletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.