The Knights jumped out to a 4-0 start with a jumper from Laila Jewett and a layup by Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu. The Cougars chipped away at the Knights lead with a 5-0 scoring run but the Knights ended the first with back-to-back free throws made by Kaitlin Peterson to give them a three-point edge, 20-17. Jewett led the Black and Gold from beyond the arc going 2-2 accounting for eight points in the quarter.
UCF continued its momentum into the second quarter as Robinson-Nwagwu made a fast break layup to go up five. Khyala Ngodu made two consecutive layups within a minute apart at 6:09 and 5:09. UCF kept its pace throughout the remainder of the second, heading into the locker room with a seven-point advantage, 38-31.
BYU came out of the half on fire to go on a 7-0 scoring spurt as the Cougars tied the game up at 38. The Cougars went on to take the lead for the first time in the game at 6:26 with a layup from Amari Whiting. Taylor Gibson broke the Knights’ scoring drought to knot the game at 40. BYU regained the lead at 5:40 with a three-pointer from Emma Calvert and continued to hold onto the lead throughout the remainder of the third, 54-44. BYU limited UCF to just six points compared to its 23.
A made layup from Timia Ware sparked a 12-1 run at 5:06 left in the fourth quarter. The Knights were able to get within two with 30 seconds left in the game. BYU’s Kailey Wooten knocked down two free throws with 13 seconds left and the Knights were unable to score ending in a 64-60 loss.
The Knights will head to Manhattan, Kansas, for a Saturday matchup against No. 7 Kansas State with tip-off slated for 5 p.m. inside Bramlage Coliseum.
