Strong Start Propels Women's Hoops in Win Over Stetson

ORLANDO - Five Knights recorded double-digits in points to guide the UCF women’s basketball team to an 89-58 victory over Stetson Saturday evening in Addition Financial Arena. 

UCF (3-0) took control from the jump going up 21-0 over Stetson (2-2) in the first seven minutes of the game as Ally Stedman led the Knights off with a three-pointer to open up the game. It wouldn’t be until under two minutes left in the quarter that the Hatters would put in their first bucket of the game allowing the Knights to dominate them 24-5 at the end of the first. 

The Black and Gold slowed down in the second quarter giving up six turnovers and allowing Stetson to pick up 16 points compared to its three turnovers and five opponent points in the first. A layup from Hannah Gusters reignited the team’s offense sending them on a 5-0 scoring run. The Knights ended the quarter making all three of their last shots giving them a 23-point lead to end the half, 44-21.

The Knights stretched their lead to 30 in the third quarter with a 14-2 run in the last five minutes of the quarter. UCF finished strong offensively with Summer Yancy recording seven points of her 14 in the final quarter of the game. The Knights came out on top with a final score of 89-58. 

UCF outrebounded Stetson 48-33 while also forcing 20 turnovers. A quintet of Knights tallied double digits in scoring as Achol Akot led the squad with 19 followed by Emely Rodriguez (15), Yancy (14), Gusters (12) and Ally Stedman (10). The five scorers marked the first time since last season’s January 27th game against Houston. 

Akot recorded a career-high 19 points and earned her first double-double this season with 11 rebounds. Both Lucie Castagne and Nevaeh Brown ran the offense with five assists a piece. 

The Knights get a two-day break before hosting North Florida for their kid’s day game Tuesday, November 19 with tipoff slated for 11 a.m.