TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Eight ties. Eight lead changes. The first round of the War On I-4 was a back-and-forth affair until the final minute of the game. UCF used a dominant fourth quarter to earn a 64-57 win over South Florida the Yuengling Center on Sunday afternoon.
UCF (10-6, 2-2 The American) limited South Florida (10-8, 2-2 The American) to just 12 points in the final frame and held the Bulls scoreless for the last minute and change.
On the flip side, the Knights poured in 22 points over the last 10 minutes and went 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the final minute to pull ahead down the stretch.
South Florida held a 17-14 edge at the end of the first quarter and extended its lead to 22-18 nearly four minutes into the second quarter. It was at that point that Kay Kay Wright took over. Going on a 9-2 run, she swung the momentum in UCF's favor to give them a 27-24 lead heading into the media timeout.
The Orlando native scored 17 of her 19 first half points in the second quarter and drained her third three-pointer of the day with nine seconds left on the clock to put UCF ahead 37-33 at the break.
The Bulls outscored the Knights 12-5 in the third quarter and led 45-42 heading into the decisive frame.
Entering Sunday, South Florida was ranked seventh in the country in offensive rebounds and rebounding margin. The Knights dominated both categories on Sunday, outrebounding the Bulls 44-32 overall and 17-11 on the offensive glass. UCF finished with 17 second chance points, while South Florida was only able to convert their offensive rebounds into nine points.
Shrugging off a slow start, Kay Kay Wright rebounded to finish with a game-high 28 points, six rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.
While Wright earned the headline, her teammates all contributed as nine Knights saw action. Brittney Smith finished with 12 points. Masseny Kaba led the Black and Gold with seven rebounds, including four offensive boards. Diamond Battles dished out four assists and Courtajia Sanders tallied a pair of blocks.
With the win, UCF now leads the 2019-20 War On I-4 lead to 30-6.
NEXT UP
The Knights continue their road stretch on Jan. 22, heading to Tulane for an 8 p.m. contest in New Orleans.
TICKETS FOR 2019-20
The UCF women's basketball team is in its fourth season under head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. Purchase season tickets by clicking here or calling (407) 823-1000.
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.
