TULSA, Okla. (UCFKnights.com) – A rally in the fourth quarter lifted UCF to a 62-58 win over Tulsa on Saturday afternoon in Reynolds Center. Junior Aliyah Gregory tied her career-high with 33 points to help the Knights to their fifth American Athletic Conference victory of the season.
"It felt great," Gregory told the American Digital Network following the game. "I think today my team showed a lot of fight, and I'm really proud of them for that."
UCF (15-9, 5-6 The American) found itself trailing by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, and entered the final 10 minutes of action down 47-38.
Senior Zykira Lewis scored five points to open the final frame. Freshman Korneila Wright found Gregory on a fastbreak to pull UCF within three, 48-45. From there, despite trading baskets, Tulsa pushed back out to a nine point advantage, 56-47, with 4:38 left to play.
Gregory drew a foul on a jumper, and completed the old fashion three-point play at the free throw line. Lewis forced the Hurricane into a turnover and found Gregory again on the breakaway. The Tampa, Fla., native pulled the Knights within a basket, 56-54, with 3:17 remaining.
Sophomore Tolulope Omokore evened the score at 56-56 with a tough shot in the paint. Fittingly, Gregory put the Knights in front, 58-56, with 46 ticks left on the clock. The Knights sealed the road win from the free throw line.
The Knights have now matched their most wins in league play since joining The American prior to the 2012-13 season.
Gregory led all scorers with 33 points. Tolulope Omokore just missed a double-double, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds. Zykira Lewis chipped in 10 points with seven rebounds and three steals. Korneila Wright dished out a trio of assists and swiped three steals.
Gregory's Great
• Aliyah Gregory continues to have a hot hand for the Knights.
• The junior guard shot 48.1 percent from the floor, making a career-best 13 field goals. She also went 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
• The Tampa, Fla., native has now scored a combined 89 points over her last three games (28 at Memphis, 28 vs. Houston, 33 at Tulsa).
• Gregory leads the team with 16.0 points per game, and bumped her average up in conference play to 20.0 points per contest.
Road Warriors
• Saturday's win at Tulsa marked the seventh road win of the season for the Knights.
• The last time UCF won seven or more road games came during the 2004-05 season when the Knights went 7-6.
• Limiting Tulsa to 58 points, the Knights have held seven of their 11 road opponents under 60 points.
Next up, UCF makes the trip to Tampa to take on No. 22/23 USF in the War on I4 rivalry series. Slated for a 7 p.m. tip, the lone meeting between the Knights and the Bulls will broadcast on ESPN3.
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news.
PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS
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.
