ORLANDO – The UCF women's basketball team heads to Ohio for a matchup with Cincinnati on Wednesday evening in Fifth Third Arena. The Knights (10-10, 1-7 AAC) and the Bearcats (8-14, 1-8 AAC) game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
A UCF WIN WOULD...
• Improve the overall record vs. Cincinnati to 12-10
• Be UCF's second American Athletic Conference win this season
• Improve the Knights to 11-10 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: UCF leads 11-10
In Cincinnati: Cincinnati leads 5-3
In Orlando: UCF leads 6-2
Neutral Site: Cincinnati leads 3-2
Last meeting: W, 74-39 (2/26/22)
Streak: UCF won 1
LAST TIME OUT
The Knights were unable to find their groove offensively in their last outing against East Carolina on Saturday. UCF outrebounded the Pirates 41-35 in the 68-54 loss. Destiny Thomas recorded her tenth double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Laila Jewett added 10 points and shot 3-of-7 from the arc. As a team, UCF recorded an astonishing 44 points off the bench.
SCOUTING CINCINNATI
The Bearcats are 8-14 overall with a 1-8 mark in league play heading into the game on Wednesday. Cincinnati comes into the matchup after a 53-50 victory at Tulane in its most recent outing on Saturday, Feb. 4.
Two members of Cincinnati's squad average double figures, led by Jillian Hayes' 12.7 points per game. Mya Jackson averages 11.7 points per game and leads the Bearcats with 62 assists. Hayes is the only player leading the Bearcats in both steals and blocks with 32.
Wednesday marks the 22th overall matchup between the Knights and Bearcats. UCF holds a 11-10 advantage in the all-time series, with Cincinnati holding a 5-3 advantage in Cincinnati.
LAST TIME VERSUS CINCINNATI
UCF came out with a dominant first quarter to set the tone in the last meeting against Cincinnati on Feb. 26, 2022, as the Knights came with 33 points in the opening frame of the 74-39 win over Cincinnati.
Destiny Thomas recorded her second double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Black and Gold are ranked in the top 50 in three statistical categories including No. 7 in offensive rebounds per game with 16.8 and 12th in rebounds per game (43.55). UCF leads the AAC in both categories. The Knights are ranked 45th in free throw attempts per game with 20.20.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DESTINY
Individually, Thomas is second in the nation for offensive rebounds per game (5.2) and 14th in rebounds per game (10.8). Thomas has recorded 10 double-doubles this season and ranks 30th 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 third in the conference with 13.75 free-throws made per game. UCF is third in the conference for free-throw attempts per game with 20.20.
Taylor Gibson leads the Black and Gold with an .810 free-throw percentage (34-42). Gibson has been perfect from the free-throw line in six 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 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 limiting their opponent to 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 this season.
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 opponent by more than 98 total boards. UCF is 9-5 when they outrebound its opponent. Prior to starting AAC play, the Knights were 9-0 this season when they outrebounded their opponent.
STEALIN' AND DEALIN'
Sierra Godbolt leads the Knights in both steals (37) and assists (59). Godbolt, freshman, is making her mark in the AAC rankings standing at No. 9 in steals per game (1.85).
