Dec. 22, 2012
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By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com
FORT MYERS, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF women's basketball team snapped Florida Gulf Coast's 16-game home-winning streak on Saturday night with its first road win of the season. With the 60-53 victory, UCF (5-8) ended the nation's ninth-longest home-winning streak and picked up its first win against the Eagles (6-5) in program history.
"I think we did a fantastic job in defense and rebounding," UCF head coach Joi Williams said. "Florida Gulf Coast is a hell of a team and we knew we couldn't relax. I credit our players for really focusing in. I'm very proud of this win. It's a huge win for this program and hopefully we'll build off of it. We can't rest. We still have a lot to work on, but it's great to learn lessons and be able to win basketball games. "
Freshman Briahanna Jackson scored a game-high 18 points and hit big-time shots down the stretch to help seal the win. Senior Gevenia Carter added 16 points and sophomore Stephanie Taylor contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
The reigning Atlantic Sun Tournament champion hit the gas right away with a 9-3 lead, but Carter and Jackson hit back-to-back threes to jolt some life into the Knights.
Erika Jones gave UCF its first lead of the game, 19-18, when she battled down low for a bucket with 5:34 remaining. The teams exchanged the lead three more times before FGCU wrapped up the half with a 31-28 edge.
The second half played out in the same back-and-forth manner. When the Knights scored five unanswered points midway through the period thanks to a swished trey from Jackson and a wide open layup from Jones, UCF cut the deficit down to one point, 42-41, for the third time after the break.
After forcing the Eagles into their third shot-clock violation of the second half, the Knights took the lead, 43-42, on their next possession off a pair of Kayli Keough free throws.
The Eagles reclaimed the lead after finally connecting from behind the arc on back-to-back possessions, but Jackson took over with seven of the next nine points to swing the game back in UCF's favor. Moreover, she did it in style -- stealing the ball at midcourt and finishing with a layup, drilling a contested trey and sinking a fade-away jump from the top of the key.
"She wants the ball when the game is on the line," Williams said. "She's a freshman so you have to go through some growing pains, but if there's anybody's hands we want the ball in at the end of the possession, it's hers. (Carter) did a good job of setting her up and she knocked down a big-time shot."
Sophomore Andrea Hines iced the game with 33 seconds left when she knocked down a pair of insurance free throws to put the game out of reach for the Eagles.
UCF will enjoy a two-week hiatus from game action until the Knights travel to Bowling Green, Ohio, for a matchup against the Falcons on Jan. 4. Season tickets, which start at only $30, are currently available by calling (407) UCF-1000 or by visiting UCFAthletics.com.