ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF women's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, heading to Dallas for an afternoon contest at SMU.
Slated for a 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET tip, the game inside Moody Coliseum can be seen on the American Digital Network.
Currently seventh in the league standings, the Knights (13-8, 3-5 The American) sit just ahead of SMU (12-10, 3-6 The American) as the teams meet for the first time on the hardwood this season.
The last meeting between the two squads came in the opening round of the 2016 American Athletic Conference Tournament. UCF held a 54-44 advantage heading into the fourth quarter, but SMU used a 24-point performance to force overtime. The Mustangs outscored the Knights 15-6 in the extra period to earn the 84-73 victory.
In UCF's last 15 games, either senior Zykira Lewis or junior Aliyah Gregory has had the hot hand on offense. Lewis averages 15.5 points per game on the season and 13.9 in league play. Gregory averages 13.8 points per contest on the season and paces UCF with 16.4 point per game in conference play.
The duo have been the leaders on the defensive end as well. Lewis ranks 14th in the nation with a team-leading 67 steals on the season. Gregory ranks sixth in the league with 40 steals on the season.
Redshirt senior Joslyn Massey has come on strong on the boards, averaging 6.6 per game in conference play. The Detroit, Mich., native grabbed six of her nine rebounds on the offensive glass against Cincinnati, and has 74 offensive rebounds on the season. A five-offensive board outing against the Bearcats added to sophomore Tolulope Omokore's team-high. She has 75 on the season. Freshman Korneila Wright dished out a career-best 10 assists the last time out and leads the team with 4.0 assists per game.
Defensively, the Knights have been solid all season. UCF is holding opponents to 55.4 points per game, which ranks 17th in the nation. The Black and Gold lead the league and rank 15th in the country in steals with 244 on the season.
SMU enters the matchup with a 12-10 overall record and a 3-6 mark in The American. The Mustangs rallied for a 53-44 win over Memphis in Moody Coliseum on Wednesday evening to snap a two-game skid in league play.
Alicia Froling paces the Mustangs, averaging 15.0 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per contest. She is shooting 54.5 percent from the field on the season. Dia'ja Thomas leads SMU with 34 blocks on the season, while Kiara Perry has a team-high 37 steals.
The Mustangs lead the league in blocked shots (136 total, 6.2 per game), with five players recording 14 or more on the season.
SMU holds a 12-6 edge in the all-time series, but the teams split the regular season meetings during the 2015-16 campaign.
Next up, UCF is back in CFE Arena on Feb. 8, hosting Houston at 7 p.m.
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