Dec. 11, 2014
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By Jenna Marina
UCFKnights.com
QUEENS, N.Y. (UCFKnights.com) - Despite an exhaustive effort, the UCF women's basketball team couldn't put a blemish on undefeated St. John's record on Thursday night. The Knights fell, 62-48, to the Red Storm.
UCF led for more than 16 minutes of the first half and held St. John's to a tie score at halftime, marking just the second time this season that the Red Storm (8-0) had not led at the break. But the Knights (4-4) could not make up for a sluggish start to the second half, even with freshman Aliyah Gregory's dominating performance.
Gregory finished with a career-high 19 points - her third straight game of double digits - after netting just two points in the first half. She was responsible for UCF's first 12 points after the break and was joined in double figures by sophomore Zykira Lewis (15 points).
Despite picking up five fouls in the first four minutes, the Knights were able to gain composure and saw Lewis pick up momentum with nine-straight points over the last four minutes of play.
UCF was poised to head into halftime holding a 26-23 edge but as the buzzer sounded on Aaliyah Lewis' missed 3-pointer, the whistle blew citing junior Erica Juarbe with a foul that sent Lewis to the free throw line. She netted all three bonus shots to tie it, 26-26, at the break.
Even though their leading scorer and Naismith Watch Lister Aliyyah Handford picked up her third foul with 17:35 remaining and was relegated to the bench, the Red Storm turned their strong close to the half into a 13-0 run to open the second.
UCF would never shrink the deficit more than 8 points the rest of the way as St. John's fed the ball through its frontcourt, registering 42 points in the paint, to lock up the win.
The Knights stick around New York City with a Sunday matinee at Iona at 2 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.