ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF women's basketball team aims to build off a historic 2018-19 campaign, announcing the full 2019-20 schedule on Thursday.
The Knights have once again put together a tough slate, facing 14 programs who advanced to the NCAA or WNIT Tournaments a year ago. Six of those teams advanced past the first round, including UConn, who has reached the Final Four in each of the last 12 years, and UCLA, who lost to the Huskies in the Sweet 16 last season.
Fifteen home games highlight the 2019-20 slate, beginning with the season opener on Nov. 6. The Knights host Pittsburgh at 11 a.m. for Education Day in Addition Financial Arena. UCF then heads out for three straight road contests – at Belmont (Nov. 9), Florida Gulf Coast (Nov. 13) and Stephen F. Austin (Nov. 16).
The Knights host Delaware on Nov. 24 and Stetson on Nov. 27 before heading to Charlottesville, Va., for the Cavalier Classic. UCF opens the tournament against UCLA, who advanced to the Sweet 16 at the 2019 NCAA Tournament, on Nov. 30. The Black and Gold conclude the weekend on Dec. 1 against James Madison, who advanced to the semifinal of the WNIT last year.
After a break for finals, UCF hosts Quinnipiac on Dec. 17 and welcomes St. Mary's (Dec. 20) and Wright State (Dec. 21) for the UCF Holiday Tournament in Addition Financial Arena. The Black and Gold wrap up non-conference action on Dec. 30, hosting Central Michigan.
UCF gears up for its seventh season as a member of the American Athletic Conference – one of the nation's premier women's basketball leagues. The Knights open conference action on Jan. 5, hosting ECU.
The Black and Gold will face three of the top five squads from the 2019 campaign in a row, beginning with a trip to Cincinnati on Jan. 12. The Knights host six-time league champion UConn on Jan. 16 before heading to Tampa for the first installment of the War on I-4 at South Florida on Jan. 19.
A trip to Tulane on Jan. 22 is followed by a Jan. 25 matchup against Memphis in Addition Financial Arena. The Knights head to Temple on Jan. 29, host SMU on Feb. 1 and travel to Tulsa (Feb. 5) and Houston (Feb. 12).
UCF begins its second round against league opponents in February, hosting the Bearcats on Feb. 15 and the Bulls on Feb. 19 before heading to Storrs on Feb. 22 to face the Huskies for the second time.
Following a Feb. 26 home contest against Temple, UCF heads to Memphis on Feb. 29. The Knights close out the regular season on March 2, hosting Wichita State in Addition Financial Arena.
The 2020 American Women's Basketball Championship will once again be played at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., from March 6-9.The winner of the American Athletic Conference Championship will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Knights have 12 games broadcast during the conference portion of the season. UCF bookends the league slate on CBSSN – opening against ECU and closing against Wichita State. Both of UCF's matchups against UConn will air on ESPN3/SNY. The Knights play on ESPN2 for a pair of contests – at Cincinnati on Jan. 12 and at USF on Jan. 19. Three of UCF's home contests – Cincinnati, USF and Temple – will air on ESPN3. The American Digital Network will produce and distribute three of UCF's games (Memphis, SMU and at Tulsa) this season.
The Knights finished the 2018-19 campaign with a 26-7 record, setting a program record for wins in a season. A 13-3 mark in The American gave UCF its highest finish in the conference for the third consecutive season, and the Knights posted a runner-up finish as the second seed at The American Championship.
Head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson has led UCF to the postseason in each of her three seasons at the helm – beginning with back-to-back WNIT bids and a berth in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Since taking over, Coach "ABE" has guided UCF to three-consecutive 20-win campaigns for the first time in the program's Division I era. In December, she became the fastest UCF head coach to reach 50 Division I wins and currently ranks fourth among the Knights' all-time coaches with a 69-30 record.
Headlining the returners for the 2019-20 campaign is senior Kay Kay Wright. A first team all-conference selection and invitee to the 2019 U.S. Pan American Games team trials, Wright led UCF in scoring, steals and assists last season. Diamond Battles, Masseny Kaba, Sianni Martin and Brittney Smith join Wright among the returnees and the Knights welcome nine newcomers into the fold.
