MANHATTAN, Kan. – UCF women’s basketball dropped a 60-58 heartbreaker at No. 7 Kansas State on Saturday evening in the Bramlage Coliseum.
The Knights (12-12, 3-11) outrebounded the Wildcats (22-4, 11-3) 37-35. The Black and Gold went 7-8 from the free-throw line as Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu recorded a perfect 2-2 from the charity stripe.
Kaitlin Peterson continued to lead the Knights with 23 points while Laila Jewett dished out a game-high seven assists. Mya Burns joined Peterson in double digits with 10 points and six rebounds. Jayla Kelly led with a team-high seven rebounds.
UCF came out with a 7-0 start to force an early Kansas State timeout at 7:18. Robinson-Nwagwu led the Knights off with a layup as Jewett followed behind with a three-pointer. The Black and Gold continued to pace their way through the first ending the quarter with an eight-point advantage, 18-10. Jewett led the Knights with six points.
The Wildcats came out on an 8-0 run to start off the second quarter knotting the game up at 18-18. Robinson-Nwagwu sank two free throws to give the Knights the lead back with 5:55 left in the first half. K-State proceeded to go on a 7-0 run to regain control of the lead. Burns hit a layup to get within one point at 2:06. The Wildcats answered back and headed into the half with a three-point edge, 27-24.
Peterson helped the Knights regain the lead early in the third quarter off a layup. Shortly after the media timeout, Wildcats’ Eliza Maupin drove in a layup to take the lead, 29-28. K-State continued to coast through the third gaining as much as a 12-point lead. Back-to-back free throws from Peterson shortened the Wildcat’s lead to 46-36 heading into the fourth.
The Black and Gold chipped away at Kansas State’s lead as Peterson sparked a 7-2 run, 51-47. With 2:55 left in the game, Peterson hit a second chance jumper in the paint to go within three. Burns tied the game up at 58 with six second left on the clock. Kansas State’s Brylee Glenn hit a fastbreak layup to give the Wildcats the 60-58 triumph.
UCF will stay on the road as they head to Stillwater, Oklahoma for a matchup against Oklahoma State on Wednesday, Feb. 21 with tip off set for 7:30 p.m.