ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – For the first time in the new year, UCF prepares to hit the road. The Knights will face Cincinnati in an American Athletic Conference matchup at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
UCF (10-4, 0-1 The American) opened conference play on Jan. 1, hosting No. 1 UConn in CFE Arena. Despite forcing the Huskies into a season-high 21 turnovers, the Knights were unable to secure their first victory in league play.
The Knights, who have ranked among the top five in the country in steals all season, collected 11 steals in the loss.
Senior Zykira Lewis leads the Black and Gold, averaging 16.4 points per game and ranks sixth in the nation with 50 steals. The Bartow, Fla., native has a team-leading 28 three-point baskets. Junior Aliyah Gregory averages 12.5 points per contest while shooting 44.5 percent from the floor. The Tampa, Fla., native ranks 52nd in the country in steals per game (2.58).
Redshirt senior Joslyn Massey, who leads the team with 98 rebounds, ranks 25th in the nation with 4.1 offensive rebounds per game. Freshman Korneila Wright has dished out a career-best eight assists twice this season, and paces the Knights with 55. The Orlando native averages team-high 30.7 minutes per game.
The Knights rank fourth in the nation in steals (186) and fifth in steals per game (13.3). The Black and Gold are ninth in the country in offensive rebounds per game, averaging 18 per contest. UCF leads the league in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 54.6 points per game.
Cincinnati enters the matchup with a 9-5 overall record and an 0-1 mark in The American. The Bearcats dropped their league opener at SMU, 64-47, on Dec. 31.
Shanice Johnson leads Cincinnati, averaging just shy of a double-double with 14.5 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per contest, and has a team-high 39 steals and 22 blocks. Ana Owens chips in 12.9 points per game and Chelsea Warren pulls down 5.0 rebounds.
The Bearcats rank second in the league with 4.2 blocks per game and are fifth in rebounds per game (39.2).
The Knights and the Bearcats face off for the ninth time on the hardwood. The programs have met eight times in The American, including twice in the conference tournament. Cincinnati holds a 6-2 edge in the all-time series, but UCF holds the most recent victory, an 80-60 road win last season.
Next up, UCF returns to CFE Arena on Saturday, hosting Memphis at 2 p.m.
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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.