GREENVILLE, N.C. – Balanced scoring led UCF to a 58-51 road victory over ECU in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Wednesday evening.
UCF (6-2, 4-1 AAC) had five players in double figures to top ECU (5-6, 3-3 AAC) in a midweek matchup between two of the American Athletic Conference's top defensive teams.
The teams traded baskets in the first quarter, but the Pirates held a 15-13 after the first 10 minutes. The Black and Gold limited ECU to just eight points in the second frame and five Knights combined for 14 points to take a 27-23 advantage into halftime.
UCF turned to its post players in the third quarter, as Brittney Smith and Masseny Kaba combined for nine of the Knights' 14 points in the period. UCF shot 50 percent from the field and held a 41-38 edge.
ECU chipped away at UCF's lead to knot the game at 44-44 with 5:26 remaining, but baskets from Kaba and Diamond Battles pushed UCF back in front for good. The Knights maintained a five-point lead for the final two minutes to earn the road victory.
The Knights forced the Pirates into 15 turnovers and converted those into 17 points. UCF also had 10 steals and held a 37-30 rebounding advantage.
Alisha Lewis finished just shy of her career high as she led the Knights with 12 points. Masseny Kaba, Brittney Smith, Courtajia Sanders and Diamond Battles each had 11 for the Black and Gold.
Sanders was UCF's leading rebounder with eight boards. Battles led the Knights with five assists while Sanders and Lewis each had four assists and three steals. Kaba and Smith spilt UCF's four blocks evenly.
UP NEXT
UCF returns to Addition Financial Arena, hosting Cincinnati on Jan. 17. The noon contest will air on ESPNU.
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