CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The UCF women's basketball team turned in its most complete game of the season on Wednesday, topping Virginia 59-38 in John Paul Jones Arena.
UCF (2-1) shot a season-best 44.7 percent from the field and held Virginia (0-3) to a pair of single digit quarters – limiting the Cavaliers to just five points in the third frame.
The Black and Gold showcased a balanced offense as nine Knights scored and three – Tay Sanders, Brittney Smith and Alisha Lewis – finished in double figures.
The Cavaliers scored first, but the Knights responded with a 6-2 spurt to go in front, 6-5, with 7:01 left in the opening frame. Once UCF took the lead, it never relinquished it. The Knights ballooned their five-point advantage at the end of the first quarter to 17 points, 34-17, with just over a minute remaining in the first half.
Virginia scored eight unanswered to open the fourth quarter, but UCF regrouped to close out the contest.
UCF scored 24 points off 22 Virginia turnovers. The Knights held a 39-23 rebounding advantage and scored 19 fast break points.
Tay Sanders led the way with 15 points, shooting 60 percent (6-10) from the floor. Alisha Lewis added a season-high 11 points and collected a season-high five steals. Brittney Smith registered her first double-double of the season, scoring 12 points while pulling down 10 rebounds.
The Knights are back home on Sunday, hosting Belmont at 2 p.m. in Addition Financial Arena.
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