UCF WBB vs. Houston (2-23-16) - Images by UCF Knights
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -- The UCF women's basketball team delivered a win to its seniors on its final home game of the 2016 season. The Knights downed Houston, 65-62, on Tuesday to split their series with the Cougars.
Related: Box Score | Box Score
The Knights benefitted from seven 3-pointers in the game, one shy of their season best. Although the Cougars made things interesting in the fourth quarter by cutting a 13-point deficit to a single possession in the final minute, the Knights sank 5-of-8 free throws to stay a step ahead.
Aliyah Gregory was in the driver's seat, scoring 33 points, and junior Joslyn Massey added 10 points while redshirt freshman Nyala Shuler led UCF in rebounding with 9 boards.
The Knights closed out their home slate with a win for the first time in three years and have now won back-to-back games heading into their regular season finale at Temple.
"I think our players did everything in their power to make sure Erica and Makenzi went away with a win in their last home game of the season," UCF head coach Joi Williams said. "The last three games we have really grown a lot, played a lot better. The light started to finally come on with some of our young players. Just excited about the future and I think they can look forward to hopefully continuing this momentum we have with one more regular season game and then going into the tournament."
Gregory The Great
? Aliyah Gregory's game-high 33 points was not only a new career high but also marked the best single-game performance by a Knight this season.
? She was responsible for 11 of the Knights' 17 first-quarter points.
? She capped the first half with a running jumper to beat the buzzer and headed into the locker room with 24 points to her name, topping her previous personal best of 22 from her freshman year.
Senior Knight
? Makenzi Reasor and Erica Juarbe were part of the starting lineup on Tuesday in the final home game of their careers.
? They were honored after the game in a special ceremony recognizing their last two years spent with the Knights.
? Reasor plans to pursue an MBA and Juarbe intends to join law enforcement or the military following graduation.
? "You spend every day with these people," Juarbe said. "They will always be a part of my life. They are basically my family now."
Up Next
? UCF closes its regular season at Temple on Monday at 7 p.m. on the American Digital Network.
? Despite outscoring the Owls in the second half, 28-21, the Knights fell 71-63 in their home meeting on Jan. 13.
Story by Jenna Marina; Video by Rachel White; Photos by Brad Helton