Dec. 17, 2014
="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0" class="imported"> 
="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0" class="imported"> UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Jenna Marina
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF women's basketball team pushed Akron to its limit but couldn't topple the undefeated Zips on Wednesday evening, falling 73-64 at CFE Arena.
Rallying back from a 16-point deficit, the Knights pulled within 5 points with 1:16 left on the clock. Unfortunately, they ran out of gas and Akron sealed up its ninth-straight win at the free throw line.
Senior forward Brittni Montgomery notched her second-straight double-double that included a 20-rebound performance. After matching her school record 24 boards at Iona, she followed with 21 rebounds and 11 points on Wednesday.
She was joined in double digits by sophomore Zykira Lewis, 26 points, and freshman Aliyah Gregory, career-high 19 points.
"Brittni did an outstanding job on the boards tonight, and we challenged her at halftime to go in and be a force on the boards," UCF head coach Joi Williams said. "She had 12 offensive rebounds and did a good job finishing, especially coming out of the second half and making a run. We can't put ourselves in those holes. I think that's the thing we've got to learn. We have to play every possession, every play, because sometimes you just can't get it back and then it's too little too late."
UCF hopped out to a 10-5 lead but Akron rolled with 11 unanswered points to take a 16-10 edge before Gregory snapped the Knights' three minute drought with 11:12 to go.
Akron pushed its advantage to double digits, 29-18, with six minutes left, but UCF climbed back with an 8-2 spurt that was capped by an incredible hustle play from junior Erica Juarbe.
After landing hard on the Knights' end of the court, she picked herself up, ran the length of the floor and stole Anita Brown's pass. The Knights whipped the ball to Lewis, who missed a 3-pointer, but Juarbe was there to bring down the offensive rebound and lay in the put back to bring the Knights within 31-26 with 4 minutes to go.
The Zips pushed their 37-30 halftime lead back out to double figures in the first two minutes after the break, but they didn't remain comfortable for long.
UCF roared back on a 9-1 stretch that pulled the team within a single possession, 45-43, with Montgomery's offensive rebound and subsequent bucket.
Lewis made it an even closer game, 48-47, when she drained a deep jumper from the baseline's left corner with 14:45 remaining.
But for as hard as they tried, the Knights could never get over the hump of the deficit. They hit a lull minutes later, allowing Akron to take advantage of another 11-0 run.
UCF made one more push for a chance at a comeback when Lewis hit a trey, 69-64, but with only 1:16 left on the clock, the Knights were forced to foul and ran out of time to upend Akron.
"We knew we had to come out and play hard from the jump," Montgomery said. "We just had to get out here and give it all we had. We didn't win, unfortunately, but we know we have to work on it and get better."
The Knights return to the road Saturday at 3 p.m. ET when they face Middle Tennessee, who currently sits 10th in the latest NCAA RPI standings, which ranks nearly 350 women's programs based upon their wins, losses and strength of schedule.
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.