ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The 2017-18 UCF women's basketball season officially gets underway on Friday. The Knights will host Mercer in a 5:30 p.m. contest in CFE Arena.
The first 450 fans will receive an Orlando's Hometown Court towel.
Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase by clicking here.
ALL ABOUT ALIYAH
- Senior Aliyah Gregory stepped up her game last season, leading the team with 16.6 points per contest.
- The Tampa native became the first Knight to earn First Team All-Conference honors in the American Athletic Conference.
- Gregory again earned recognition from the league coaches in the fall, as she was named to The American Preseason All-Conference First Team in October.
- She reached double figures in 26 of her 31 contests last season, including eight 20-point outings.
TURNING IT AROUND
- In her first year at the helm, head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson led UCF to one of its best seasons in the Division I era.
- With a 21-12 overall record last season, the Knights won 14 more contests than the 2015-16 campaign.
- UCF tied the second-best turnaround nationally in women's basketball. Rider saw a 15-game improvement; New Hampshire also saw a 14-game swing.
- The Knights were one of two teams to reach 20 wins after posting single-digit victories last year. Rider went 24-9 after an 8-22 2016-17 campaign.
- With the men's team posting a 24-12 overall record, UCF turned in the best combined turnaround in Division I basketball. The Knights were one of 26 schools with both programs posting 20-win seasons.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
- Mercer posted a 25-7 mark in 2016-17, setting a program record for the most wins in a season in the NCAA Division I era.
- The Bears were the preseason favorites in the Southern Conference poll after claiming back-to-back regular season titles.
- Two-time defending SoCon Player of the Year Kahlia Lawrence returns after leading Mercer with 18.0 points per game last season.
- The Bears return their top five scorers, and best leading rebounders for the 2017-18 campaign.
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.
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.