ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – A three-pointer from junior Aliyah Gregory put the UCF women's basketball team on the scoreboard less than 30 seconds into the game. The Knights never lost that lead, cruising to a 70-43 victory over Bethune-Cookman in CFE Arena on Sunday afternoon.
UCF (7-2) reached the 70-point mark for the second time this season, while turning in its largest margin of victory in a 27-point win over the Wildcats.
Gregory's three-pointer sparked an 11-0 run from the Knights in the first quarter. UCF limited Bethune-Cookman to just eight points on 3-for-12 shooting (25 percent) in the first 10 minutes of game action. The Knights carried the momentum into the second quarter and took a 36-19 advantage into the locker room.
UCF led by at least 20 points for the second half of the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter - 15:06 of total time in the game.
For the eighth time this season, UCF had the advantage on the boards. The Knights held a 45-27 rebounding edge and scored 13 second chance points in the win. The Black and Gold scored 27 points off of turnovers, forcing the ball out of Bethune-Cookman's hands 23 times.
Three Knights finished in double figures, led by senior Zykira Lewis who scored 15 points off the bench to go along with five steals and four assists. Redshirt sophomore Nyala Shuler posted her first double-double of the season, chipping in 13 points while pulling down 10 rebounds. Junior Fifi Ndour scored 11 points for the Knights. Redshirt senior Joslyn Massey just missed her second double-double of the season, grabbing 10 rebounds while adding nine points.
Fast First Quarter
• UCF scored 11 unanswered points in the first 3:18 of action. Almost halfway through the first quarter, the home team led by a dozen, 14-2.
• The Knights scored 26 points in the first quarter, marking the highest output in the first 10 minutes of game action this season.
• The Black and Gold shot 73.3 percent from the floor, and 80 percent (4-5) from three.
• Six Knights scored in the first frame, which redshirt sophomore Nyala Shuler chipping in a season-best nine points in 10 minutes of play.
Awesome All-Around
• Seven different Knights scored for the Black and Gold, with each one contributing at least five points.
• Nine of the 11 Knights that saw playing time on Sunday collected at least one rebound in the win. A pair of Knights, Jolsyn Massey and Nyala Shuler, reached double figures with 10 rebounds each.
• UCF's bench contributed 34 points, including double-figure nights from Zykira Lewis and Fifi Ndour.
• Four Knights dished out two or more assists, and seven Knights finished with at least one steal in the victory.
UCF is back in action Dec. 10, hosting Gardner-Webb at 2 p.m. The women's game precedes the men's 5 p.m. contest against Maryland Eastern Shore, and the purchase of one ticket will allow fans to attend both events that day.
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Don't miss any of the action during Coach Abe's first season with the Knights. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here. Adult season tickets are available for $30, and youth tickets (ages 2-17 years) are available for $15.
