ORLANDO – Defense was key again for the UCF women's basketball team as the Knights held Belmont to their season low in a 57-45 win in Addition Financial Arena on Sunday.
UCF (3-1) went on an 8-0 run while holding the Bruins (3-2) scoreless over the final 2 minutes and 53 seconds of the contest.
The Knights got off to a slow start, scoring just 14 points while shooting 19 percent from the floor, but trailed by just four points, 18-14, at halftime.
In the third quarter, UCF found itself trailing by four points, 23-19, with 6:45 remaining in the frame. Over the next two minutes, fifth-year seniors Masseny Kaba and Tay Sanders put together a 7-0 run to put the Knights in front. Once Kaba gave her team the lead, the Knights began to build on it.
Alisha Lewis capped off a 9-0 run with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to put the Black and Gold up by 10 points, 37-27, heading into the final period.
ALISHA. LEWIS. ?? pic.twitter.com/GScEQ7ZJUS
— UCF Women's Hoops (@UCF_WBB) November 21, 2021
The Bruins squad, which was ranked 17th in the nation in made three-point field goals entering Sunday's game, hit four treys in the fourth quarter, but UCF had an answer for every Belmont bucket. The defense locked in down the stretch, not allowing Belmont to score after the final media timeout.
UCF responded to its cold-shooting first half by shooting 68.2 percent from the floor in the second half and nearly doubled its first half point total in the third quarter alone, pouring in 23 points in the frame.
The Black and Gold held a 41-24 rebounding edge and grabbed 15 offensive boards.
Three Knights finished in double figures, led by Diamond Battles' 16 points and seven rebounds. Alisha Lewis added 14 points and dished out four assists. Masseny Kaba nearly had a double-double, with 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Tay Sanders matched Kaba and Lewis with four assists and grabbed four of her seven rebounds on the offensive end.
Next up, UCF travels to the Cancun Challenge. The Knights face Idaho State on Nov. 26 and USC on Nov. 27.
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