ORLANDO - The UCF women's basketball team hits the road this weekend heading to Temple for an 2 p.m. matchup on Saturday afternoon inside the Liacouras Center. The Knights 10-8, 1-5 AAC) and the Owls (8-11, 3-4 AAC) game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
A UCF WIN WOULD...
• Be UCF's fourth consecutive win over Temple
• Be UCF's second American Athletic Conference win this season
• Improve the Knights to 11-8 on the season
• Give Sytia Messer her 11th win as head coach for the Knights and 65th of her career
• Be better than a loss
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Overall: Temple leads 9-8
In Philadelphia: Temple leads 5-2
In Orlando: UCF leads 5-4
Neutral Site: UCF leads 1-0
Last meeting: W, 68-31 (2/19/22) in Philadelphia
Streak: UCF won 3
LAST TIME OUT
The Knights started slow in their last outing at South Florida on Sunday and were unable to combat an 11-0 spurt from the Bulls, as they fell 83-51. Anzhané Hutton and Rachel Ranke led UCF in scoring with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Hutton marked her second double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
The Owls are 8-11 overall with a 3-4 mark in league play heading into the game on Saturday. Temple comes into the matchup after a 68-59 win at Tulane in its most recent outing on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
Three members of Temple's squad average double figures, led by Aleah Nelson's 15.1 points per game. Tiarra East averages 11.3 and Jasha Clinton averages 11.1 points per game. East also leads the team in rebounds (6.3) and Nelson leads in triples (51).
Saturday marks the 18th meeting between the Knights and Owls. Temple holds a 9-8 advantage in the all-time series, with the Knights winning the last three matchups.
LAST TIME VERSUS TEMPLE
UCF put together a stellar shooting performance in the last meeting against Temple, as the Knights held the Owls to single digits in scoring each quarter en route to a 68-31 victory. As a team, UCF shot 45.3% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc.
The 31 points allowed were the fewest for the program since Nov. 26, 2016, when UCF defeated Rider, 49-30. The Knights held Temple to its lowest outcome in the all-time series, and the 31 points were the fewest for the Owls since the 1992-93 season. The Black and Gold limited Temple to its lowest field goal percentage (.231) and three-point percentage (.083) of the season.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Black and Gold are ranked in the top 50 in three statistical categories including No. 8 in offensive rebounds per game with 16.5 and 13th in rebounds per game (43.50). UCF leads the AAC in both categories. The Knights are ranked 49th in free throw attempts per game with 20.17.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DESTINY
Individually, Thomas is fourth in the nation for offensive rebounds per game (4.9) and 18th in rebounds per game (10.4). Thomas has recorded eight double-doubles this season and ranks 35th 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 two players averaging a double-double along with South Florida's Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu. Thomas recorded a career-high 24 points on Jan. 15 against Wichita State.
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 13.78 free throws made per game. UCF is third in the conference for free throw attempts per game with 20.17.
Jewett leads the Black and Gold with an .810 free throw percentage (34-42). Jewett has been perfect from the free throw line in four games this season.
JEWETT'S GEM
Jewett recorded a career-high 34 points in UCF's 79-74 double overtime victory against Samford in 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 the most points by any player in the AAC this season.
60 = MAGIC NUMBER
The Black and Gold are 7-0 when their opponent scores 60 points or less. UCF led the season off by limiting its first three opponents to 60 points or less. In the most recent win against Wichita State, UCF kept them to 56 points, the lowest against a conference opponent.
OFF THE GLASS
Showcased by a season-high 50 rebounds against SEMO (11/27), Elon (12/21) and Texas Southern (12/29), the Knights have outrebounded their opponents by more than 80 total boards. UCF is 9-3 this season when outrebounding its opponent. Prior to starting AAC play, the Knights were 9-0 when they outrebounded their opponent.
