ORLANDO – The UCF women's basketball team continues its American Athletic Conference road swing, heading to ECU for a Saturday matinee in Minges Coliseum.
The Knights (9-2, 1-0 The American) and Pirates (7-6, 0-0 The American) tip at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
GAME INFO
Date: Saturday, Jan. 8
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats
GETTING DEFENSIVE
During the Coach Abe era, the Knights have ranked among the best in the country defensively and the 2021-22 season is following the same pattern. UCF is limiting its opponents to 48.1 points per game, which ranks second nationally.
The Black and Gold have held eight opponents below 50 points, with two - Duquesne and Virginia - failing to reach 40 points. They've held seven teams to their season low, opening league play holding Tulane to a season-low 47 points. The Green Wave entered the contest averaging 74.6 points per game.
The Knights average 11.5 steals this season, which ranks 23rd in the country, and rank 56th with 20.0 turnovers forced. UCF has forced each opponent this season into double-digit turnovers, with five of the 11 committing 20+ turnovers.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Masseny Kaba became the 20th Knight in program history to reach 1,000 career points. Her scoring her 1,001-career point with 2:51 remaining in the contest.
- Diamond Battles paces the Knights with 13.9 points per game, having reached double figures in eight of UCF's 11 contests. The Winter Haven, Fla., native is one of 10 league players with three or more 20-point contests this season.
- Tay Sanders has reached double figures in four of the last five games and is UCF's second-leading scorer at 11.0 points per contest.
- Destiny Thomas leads UCF and ranks 101st nationally with 8.4 rebounds per game. She is one of six league players with five or more games with 10+ rebounds this season.
- The Knights have appeared among the teams receiving votes in six straight USA Today/WBCA Top 25 polls.
SCOUTING ECU
The Pirates are 7-6 on the season and open league play against the Knights on Saturday. ECU enters conference action on a two-game win streak and rank 12th nationally in turnovers forced (23.23).
Taniyah Thompson paces ECU and The American with 17.8 points per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from three. Alexsia Rose leads the Pirates with 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Tiara Chambers averages 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game for the Pirates.
The Pirates lead the all-time series 14-11, but the Knights have won the last seven matchups.
NEXT UP
UCF returns to Addition Financial Arena to host Houston on Jan. 11. The Knights and Cougars tip at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
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