ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – A full-game effort led the UCF women's basketball team to a 63-59 win over IUPUI in the UCF Thanksgiving Classic at CFE Arena on Saturday afternoon.
"We've had two games that have been really close - Chattanooga and this game," UCF head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said. "It's preparing us for the future. I think (Korneila Wright) and Lawriell really did a good job of getting the ball to the correct people."
UCF (3-3) used a 15-point outing from sophomore Korneila Wright to go along with 14 points from junior Lawriell Wilson to hand the Jaguars their first loss of the season.
Freshman Masseny Kaba added 11 points and five rebounds for the Knights, while junior Sydnee McDonald hit a pair of threes on her way to a season-high eight points in the victory.
She was "Just Wright" today.
- Sophomore Korneila Wright scored a team-high 15 points in 39 minutes of action to help the Knights earn their first victory in CFE Arena this season.
- The Orlando native grabbed a season-high eight rebounds in the win, one shy of her career high (9 at FIU on Nov. 11, 2016).
- She became the second Knight to record five steals in a game this season, joining senior Zakiya Saunders who accomplished the feat at Chattanooga on Nov. 13.
UCF put together a full-game effort.
- The Knights scored in double figures in every quarter, marking the third time this season that UCF has scored at least 10 points in all four quarters.
- The Black and Gold never trailed at the end of a 10-minute period. Wright hit a shot just before the first quarter buzzer to put UCF ahead 20-19, and a steal and layup from redshirt junior Nyala Shuler gave UCF a 31-30 lead at halftime.
- The Knights outscored IUPUI 16-9 in the third quarter to extend their lead to 47-39.
- After the Jaguars pulled within two points, 61-59, with eight seconds remaining, senior Aliyah Gregory sealed the win from the charity stripe. She sank a pair of free throws for the final score.
The Knights remained perfect against the Jaguars.
- Entering Saturday's contest, UCF was 1-0 against IUPUI. The Knights claimed a 100-61 win on Dec. 19, 1984.
- The Jaguars are the second team that UCF has faced so far this season that the Knights are undefeated against. The Black and Gold improved to 6-0 over Gardner-Webb with a 65-30 win in Boiling Springs on Nov. 17.
The Knights close out the UCF Thanksgiving Classic on Sunday, taking on Northern Iowa at 1:30 p.m.
SEASON TICKETS
The UCF women's basketball team is set for its second season under head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. Season tickets are on sale now for $40. Click here or call (407) 823-1000 for ticket information.
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