Nov. 19, 2012
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By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF women's basketball team is spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Mexico this week as the team prepares for the Hardwood Tournament of Hope. The Knights (1-3) will tip off the three-day tournament Tuesday against No. 8 Louisville (3-0) at 7 p.m. ET.
Tuesday's contest will offer the Knights an early look at BIG EAST play, as they will join the Cardinals in the conference next year. Although the season has just started, Louisville will be the second top-15 team the Knights have faced as UCF dropped a 72-54 decision to then-No. 13 St. John's in Daytona Beach earlier this month.
The Knights will meet either Gonzaga or Missouri State in Wednesday's second-round matchup depending on Tuesday's outcome.
Louisville is undefeated and has tallied at least 90 points in each of its last two outings. Wade and Wooden Watch Lister Shoni Schimmel leads the team in scoring with 12 points per game and recently hit the 1,000-point milestone. Sophomore forward Sara Hammond averages nearly a double-double with 10.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Of the seven other teams in the bracket, UCF has only faced two of them before: Winthrop and Mississippi State. However, UCF assistant coach Courtney Locke is no stranger to UC-Santa Barbara. She was the recruiting coordinator and one of the inaugural coaches on Carlene Mitchell's staff, helping the Gauchos to the 2012 Big West Tournament title.
Season tickets, which start at only $30, are currently available by calling (407) UCF-1000 or by visiting UCFAthletics.com.