ORLANDO- The UCF women's basketball team returns to Addition Financial Arena for a Sunday matchup against Wichita State.
The Knights (9-6, 0-3 AAC) and the Shockers (11-5, 1-2 AAC) will tip off at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
A UCF WIN WOULD...
• Be UCF's seventh consecutive win over Wichita State
• Be UCF's first American Athletic Conference win this season
• Snap the three-game losing streak
• Improve the Knights to 10-6 on the season
• Give Sytia Messer her 10th win as head coach for the Knights and 64th of her career
• Be better than a loss
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Overall: UCF leads 6-0
In Wichita: UCF leads 2-0
In Orlando: UCF leads 3-0
Neutral Site: UCF leads 1-0
Last meeting: W, 60-35 (2/16/22) in Orlando
Streak: UCF won 6
LAST TIME OUT
The Knights dropped their last game with an 80-42 decision to Houston on Jan. 10 in the Fertitta Center. Bryana Hardy pulled down a season-best 10 rebounds adding nine points to lead the Knights. Rachel Ranke and Sierra Godbolt each finished with seven points, while Kiera Brown and Ranke each snagged six rebounds.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Black and Gold are ranked in the top 50 in two statistical categories including No. 7 in offensive rebounds per game with 17.5 and 11th in rebounds per game (45.20). UCF leads the American Athletic Conference in both categories.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DESTINY
Individually, Destiny Thomas is second in the nation for offensive rebounds per game (5.3) and 14th in rebounds per game (10.7). Thomas has recorded seven double-doubles this season and ranks 26th in the country. Her program-record tying 24 rebounds against Seton Hall are the second most by an NCAA DI player this season behind Angel Reese from LSU (28). In the AAC, she is one of three players averaging a double-double along with South Florida's Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu and Wichita State's Jane Asinde.
CAPITALIZING ON THE FREEBIES
Headlined by a season-high 23 free throws made against Idaho State (12/20) and 28 attempts against Tulsa (1/7) and Auburn (12/3). The Knights are second in the conference with 14.53 free throws made per game. UCF is third in the conference for free throw attempts per game with 21.
Laila Jewett leads the Black and Gold with an .811 free throw percentage (30-37).
JEWETT'S GEM
Laila Jewett recorded a career-high 34 points against Samford on Nov. 26. Jewett's 34 points came via an impressive 56 percent shooting from the field (9-16), including five made triples on nine tries from beyond the arc. That total is tied with South Florida's Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu for most points by any player in the AAC this season.
BOLTING IN
Sierra Godbolt is ranked third in the conference with 2.20 steals per game followed by sixth in assists per game with 3.4. Godbolt is one of two players in the AAC to be ranked in the top 10 for steals and assists along with Tulane's Dynah Jones. Nationally, Godbolt ranks No. 88 with a total of 33 steals.
WICHITA STATE
The Shockers are 11-6 overall with a 1-3 mark in league play as they enter the contest on Sunday. Wichita State brings a three-game losing streak into Orlando.
Three members of Wichita State's squad average double figures, led by DJ McCarty's 12.9 points per game. Trajata Colbert averages 11.3 while Jane Asinde adds 11.1. Asinde also leads the team in rebounds (11.1) and steals per game (2.2).
Sunday marks the seventh meeting between the Knights and Shockers. UCF holds a 6-0 edge, with the last matchup on Feb. 16, 2022.
LAST TIME VS. WICHITA STATE
In the last meeting against Wichita State, the Knights overcame a slow start to outscore Wichita State by nearly 30 points in the second half on their way to a 60-35 victory over the Shockers. After trailing 19-17 at halftime, UCF scored 21 points in the third quarter and 22 in the fourth quarter to lead the Knights to the win.
