ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – A total team effort led the UCF women's basketball team to a 61-41 victory over Memphis in American Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon in CFE Arena.
"We challenged (the team) at the beginning, and everyone was on board," UCF head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said. "We'd never beat (Memphis) before (in The American)."
UCF (16-7, 8-2 The American) held Memphis (7-15, 2-7 The American) to its third-lowest outing of the season. The Black and Gold defense limited the Tigers to a pair of single-digit quarters and held its sixth league opponent under 50 points.
Seven members of the team that saw action scored at least one point, collected one rebound and dished out one assist. UCF tied its season-best with 22 assists on the day.
Zakiya Saunders led all scorers with 20 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. She dished out four assists and collected five steals. Masseny Kaba added 17 points to go along with seven rebounds. Lawriell Wilson accounted for a season-best six assists, and Jamesha Paul collected four of her career-best seven rebounds on the offensive end.
The Knights picked up their first-ever win over Memphis in The American.
- The Tigers entered Saturday on an eight-game win streak against the Knights.
- UCF's last win against Memphis came on Feb. 10, 2013, when the squads competed in Conference USA.
- With a win over Temple to open league play, the UCF senior class now holds at least one win over 10 of its 11 American opponents.
The third quarter was key.
- The Knights held Memphis to just six points in the third quarter – the fewest by a UCF opponent in the third frame this season.
- UCF poured in 21 points in the same 10-minute frame – the highest output by the Black and Gold in the third quarter this season.
- Six Knights scored in the quarter.
Zakiya Saunders continues to be dominant for UCF.
- The Augusta, Ga., native turned in her fifth 20-point performance of the season, and her third in the last four games.
- Saunders leads the team with an average of 14.4 points per game and is averaging just shy of 15 points per contest in league play.
- With eight rebounds, the redshirt senior just missed her second double-double of the season.
- She turned in her third five-steal game of the season.
NEXT UP
UCF continues its homestand, hosting No. 1 UConn on Feb. 7. The Knights and Huskies will tip off at 7 p.m. in the Play 4Kay game to raise breast cancer awareness.
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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