ORLANDO – The UCF women's basketball team returns to action for the first time in 2021, hosting Houston in an American Athletic Conference matchup at Addition Financial Arena on Sunday.
UCF (4-1, 2-0 The American) and Houston (5-1, 2-0 The American) tip off at noon on ESPNU.
GAME INFO
Date: Sunday, Jan. 3
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Watch: ESPNU | Online
Live Stats
Addition Financial Arena A to Z Guide
Purchase Tickets
PARKING NOTE: The stretch of Knights Victory Way between the entrance to Garage F and the intersection of East Plaza Drive and Knights Victory Way is currently under construction. To complete this work, this section of the roadway will be blocked from December 14, 2020 through January 4, 2021. Access to Garage F will be via West Plaza Drive only.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
UCF Athletics is actively working with University leadership, the American Athletic Conference, the NCAA and public health officials to prioritize the health and well-being of all involved. All precautions undertaken are consistent with the guidance of Orange County and the state of Florida.
Fans are asked to do their part by conscientiously practicing physical distancing, frequently washing hands, using hand sanitizer, wearing face coverings and entering the assigned gate on their mobile ticket to ensure the healthiest possible environment at sporting events throughout the 2020-21 season. All fans should keep a safe distance between their party and other fans while inside and outside of Addition Financial Arena.
Those fans who are not feeling well or have been in close contact with someone they suspect may be infected should stay home and contact their doctor.
For the full A to Z guide on all the changes at Addition Financial Arena, click here.
VOTE GETTERS
After a 2-0 start to league play, the Knights earned votes in the USA Today/WBCA Top 25 on Dec. 22, and appeared again in the receiving votes section on Dec. 29.
UCF earned votes in the coaches poll for the first time since Nov. 11, 2019. The Black and Gold opened the 2019-20 season receiving votes in the USA Today rankings. In 2018-29, 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.
KNIGHT NOTES
UCF enters 2021 with a 4-1 overall record. The Black and Gold are off to a 2-0 start in The American for the third time in the last four seasons.
A pair of Knights are averaging double figures, led by Courtajia Sanders' 12.0 points per game. Sanders also leads the Black and Gold with 2.6 steals per game. Diamond Battles is just behind her with 11.6 points per contest and leads the Knights with 4.2 assists per game.
Recording at least four rebounds in every contest she's seen action, Destiny Thomas paces the Knights on the boards with 6.3 per game. Masseny Kaba is just behind her with 6.2 rebounds per game and is the third-leading scorer at 8.8 points per contest.
Nationally, the Knights defense remains one of the stingiest in the country. UCF ranks ninth in scoring defense, holding opponents to 51.2 points per game. The Black and Gold's opponents are shooting just 35.1 percent from the field, which ranks 35th in the country.
While UCF hasn't been known as a three-point shooting squad under Coach ABE, the Knights rank seventh in the country in three-point field goal percentage, shooting at a 42.5 percent clip. Five different Knights have hit at least one three this season and three – Sanders, Battles and Alisha Lewis – are shooting above 42 percent from beyond the arc.
SCOUTING HOUSTON
The Cougars are 5-1 overall, with a 2-0 mark in league play. Houston enters the contest on a four-game win streak.
A pair of Cougars average double figure scoring - Britney Onyeje at 15.5 points per game and Dymond Gladney at 10.0 points per contest. Gladney also averages 2.0 steals per game. Bria Patterson is Houston's top rebounder at 7.0 boards per contest and Julia Blackshell-Fair averages 5.3 assists per game.
Houston ranks sixth nationally in three-point field goal defense, holding opponents to 21 percent from beyond the arc. On the flipside, the Cougars lead the league and rank 28th in the nation with 8.8 three-point field goals made per game. Houston also ranks 25th in the country in turnovers forced at 21.5 per game.
UCF leads the all-time series, 16-6. The Knights have won seven straight against the Cougars.
UP NEXT
UCF begins a two-game road swing at Temple on Jan. 9. The Knights make the trip to face ECU on Jan. 13.
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