ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – For the second straight season, the UCF women's basketball team received votes in the USA Today/WBCA Preseason Top 25.
The Knights earned three votes in the preseason poll, which was released on Thursday. Last season, UCF was among the teams receiving votes in 19 of the 20 USA Today rankings and earned votes for the first time in school history in the AP Top 25. The Knights also picked up votes in three consecutive polls during the 2017-18 campaign.
The Black and Gold are back in the national conversation following a record-setting 26-7 campaign in 2018-19. In her third season at the helm, head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson led the Knights to a program-best runner-up finish in the American Athletic Conference and the program's first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
In October, UCF was tied for third in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll, setting its best preseason selection for the second straight year.
A pair of UCF's opponents in The American are ranked or received votes in the preseason polls. UConn will begin the season ranked fourth in the USA Today poll and fifth in the AP poll. South Florida received votes in both preseason polls.
Three of UCF's non-conference opponents are ranked or received votes in at least one of the preseason polls. The Knights will face No. 11 UCLA at the Cavalier Classic on Nov. 30. The Bruins are ranked in both preseason polls following a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019. James Madison and FGCU also garnered votes in the USA Today poll.
Kay Kay Wright headlines UCF's five returners for the 2019-20 campaign. The American's Co-Preseason Player of the Year, Wright was also named to the watch list for the 2020 Nancy Lieberman Award as on of the top 20 point guards in the nation. The Orlando native was UCF's leading scorer last season and enters her final season at UCF ranked fourth all-time in assists (383), sixth in steals (207) and is just 46 points shy of joining the career top 10 in points (1,108).
The Knights also return Masseny Kaba, Diamond Battles, Brittney Smith and Sianni Martin while welcoming nine newcomers into the fold.
UCF opens its 2019-20 season against Pitt on Nov. 6. The Knights and the Panthers tip at 11 a.m. for Education Day in Addition Financial Arena.
TICKETS FOR 2019-20
The UCF women's basketball team is set for its fourth season under head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. Purchase season tickets by clicking here or calling (407) 823-1000.
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