ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF women's basketball team heads to Charlottesville, Va., for a challenging pair of contests at the Cavalier Classic.
Hosted by Virginia, the Knights will face No. 11 UCLA and a James Madison squad that is receiving votes in the Top 25.
GAME INFO
UCF vs. No. 11 UCLA
Date: Friday, Nov. 30
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Charlottesville, Va. (John Paul Jones Arena)
Live Stats
UCF vs. RV James Madison
Date: Saturday, Dec. 1
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Charlottesville, Va. (John Paul Jones Arena)
Live Stats
KNIGHT NOTES
UCF heads to Charlottesville on a three-game win streak after topping Stetson 66-40 on Nov. 27. Kay Kay Wright posted a 20-point, five-assist performance to lead the way. She now leads the team with a scoring average of 13.0 points per game.
Masseny Kaba leads UCF with 5.5 rebounds per game, while Brittney Smith averages 4.2. boards per game. Destiny Thomas bumped her season average to 3.8 rebounds per game with a career-best 10 boards against the Hatters.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
• UCF forced Stetson into a season-high 35 turnovers, converting them into 31 points.
• The Black and Gold collected a season-best 21 steals, which marked the most by an American Athletic Conference squad this year and UCF's most steals under Coach "ABE."
• Nine Knights contributed to the season-best. Diamond Battles led the way with five steals. Four other Knights collected a trio of steals each.
THE WRIGHT WAY
• Kay Kay Wright added her name to the UCF record book in 2018- 19, but has continued her climb on the charts in 2019-20.
• The Orlando native entered her final season ranked in two career categories - fourth in assists and sixth in steals.
• In the win at Stephen F. Austin, she moved into the career top 10 in two additional categories - points and field goals made.
• She currently sits 10th in scoring (1,186) and field goals made (465).
• Wright is now one of three Knights that rank in the top 10 in scoring, assists and steals - joining Chariya Davis (95-99) and Aisha Patrick (08-12).
• Entering the Nov. 24 matchup against Delaware, Wright was three assists shy of third on the all-time list. She reached the mark in the first quarter...and added eight more in the game to push her over 400. She currently has 409.
• In the win over the Blue Hens, the point guard tallied her second career double-double with 11 points and a career-best 11 assists.
STRONG SCHEDULE
• In 12 non-conference matchups, UCF will face 10 squads that made postseason appearances in 2019, including six NCAA Tournament teams.
• Belmont has made four straight NCAA Tournaments, while FGCU has made either the NCAA Tournament or WNIT in all 12 seasons of DI existence (07-present).
• Stephen F. Austin and Stetson were both WNIT squads in March 2019.
• At the Cavalier Classic, UCF will face UCLA, who opened the 2019 campaign ranked 11th after a Sweet 16 NCAA run last spring. The Knights will also face James Madison, who made a run to the WNIT semifinal in 2019.
• Quinnipiac, Wright State and Central Michigan were all NCAA squads in 2019, while St. Mary's was among the WNIT field.
SCOUTING THE FIELD
UCF's Saturday contest against the Bruins marks the first meeting between the teams on the hardwood. The Black and Gold face the Dukes for the fourth time in program history, but the first since 2011. James Madison leads the all-time series 2-1.
No. 11 UCLA are 5-0 on the season and will play away from home for the first time in the 2019-20 campaign. Four Bruins average double figures, led by Michaela Onyenwere's 16.4 points per game. Japreece Dean is the second-leading scorer and UCLA's leading rebounder, with 15.0 PPG and 7.7 RPG. She also has a team-best 28 assists.
James Madison, who has earned votes in the Top 25, brings a 5-1 record into the weekend and faces the host Virginia on Nov. 29. A trio of Dukes average double figures, led by Kamiah Smalls' 20.5 points per game. Kayla Cooper-Williams and Kiki Jefferson pace JMU on the boards, with 7.8 and 7.0 rebounds per game, respectively. Cooper-Williams also has a team-leading 19 blocks.
NEXT UP
UCF takes a break for finals before opening a five-game homestand in Addition Financial Arena. The Knights return to action on Dec. 17, hosting Quinnipiac at 6 p.m.
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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