Feb. 7, 2015
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By Jenna Marina
UCFKnights.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - An ill-timed cold snap for the UCF women's basketball team allowed SMU to steal its first win of conference play on Saturday afternoon at CFE Arena.
Scoring just 2 points in the final 4:30 of play, the Knights (7-16, 3-9) allowed the Mustangs (5-17, 1-10) to rally for a 70-60 win. The teams split the season's regular season series after UCF claimed a 61-57 win in Dallas two weeks ago.
UCF tallied two more field goals than its counterpart (25 to 23), but SMU capitalized off UCF's foul trouble. The Mustangs converted 18 free throws, including a 7-of-9 showing in the final five minutes.
Zykira Lewis led three Knights in double figures with her 13th 20-point outing of the season in front of 2,693 on Knights for Education day at CFE Arena, marking the third-best crowd in school history.
The sophomore's 21 points were complemented by Brittni Montgomery's 13 points and Aliyah Gregory's 12 points. Freshman Fifi Ndour contributed a healthy stat line of 6 points, game-high 10 rebounds, four assists and just one turnover.
After SMU jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first three minutes, UCF went on a tear, outscoring the Mustangs 17-3 over the next eight minutes. Lewis capped the run with two free throws for a 22-13 edge, their largest of the half.
SMU rallied back with a 7-0 stretch to regain a 29-28 lead but Lewis quickly responded with a 3-pointer that lifted UCF to an eventual halftime lead of 33-29.
UCF maintained its command on the lead after the break and pushed it back out to an 8-point advantage, 47-39, when Ndour dished to Lewis for a layup with 11:38 to go.
The Mustangs cut it to a single possession two minutes later, but Gregory delivered a much-needed jumper from the elbow for the Knights and Lewis drilled a 3-pointer on the follow possession.
Senior Stephanie Taylor chipped in a layup with 4:30 to play for a 58-53 lead, but the Knights couldn't find the bottom of the net again until Andrea Hines made good on a fast break jumper with 20 seconds remaining. By then, UCF had dug itself in too deep and SMU pushed on to end its 14-game losing streak.
UCF heads to Tulane on Tuesday for an 8 p.m. ET matchup on the American Digital Network. The Knights will look to avenge a last-second 71-70 loss to the Green Wave on Jan. 13.
Fans can get in on the action all year with the "Season Ticket Card," starting at $15. Tickets are available today by calling (407) UCF-1000 or buying online by clicking here.