Nov. 30, 2014
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By Jenna Marina
UCFKnights.com
AMHERST, Mass. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF women's basketball team couldn't withstand a late UMass rally, falling 67-62 on Sunday afternoon in its first road match of the year.
The Knights, who led by 11 points with 6:50 to go in the game, watched their lead dwindle over the next eight minutes as UMass made a 13-1 run, which included Rashida Timbilla's go-ahead free throws with 1:18 remaining.
UCF freshman Aliyah Gregory tried to reclaim the lead, but her jumper couldn't find the bottom of the net. UMass (3-3) was able to tick away precious seconds, and Kim Pierre-Louis beat the shot clock with a long, contested jumper for a 65-62 edge with 19.4 seconds remaining, forcing UCF (3-2) to draw up a game-tying play during a timeout.
Senior Andrea Hines let one fly from behind the arc, but her shot missed rim, and with 8.4 seconds left, the Knights were forced to send Pierre-Louis to the free throw line once again, where she iced the game.
Although UCF shot an efficient 50 percent from the field in the first half and saw Zykira Lewis (game-high 25 points) net her third 20-point game of the season, it was the Knights' turnovers that did them in.
UMass managed to chip in 30 points off UCF's 24 turnovers, 17 of which came from steals by the Minutewomen.
UCF entered halftime trailing by just one point, 37-36, but came out of the locker room with a fire that fueled a 8-2 run in the opening two minutes.
The Knights continued to roll as Lewis drained a 3-pointer and followed it up with a transition layup. Hines came up with a rebound on UMass' next possession and took it the length of the floor, pulling up for a short jumper for a 53-44 lead.
UCF pushed it out to double-digits off another patented Lewis 3-pointer with 9:33 remaining, and hovered there for the next three minutes before the Minutewomen began their successful comeback.
Up next, UCF will play its first double-header matchup of the year with the men's team when the Knights take on North Florida on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Fans can get in on the action all year with the "Season Ticket Card," which is on sale now, starting at $30. Tickets are available today by calling (407) UCF-1000 or buying online by clicking here.