ORLANDO - The UCF women’s basketball team announced the signing of Audreonia Benson and Samari Bankhead to the 2025-26 roster on Wednesday.
Benson, a transfer from Pensacola State College, joins the Black and Gold as a shooting guard. The 5 '7 guard averaged 12.1 points per game for the Pirates last season where she was named Freshman of the Year. She also tallied up 59 steals and 47 assists in her first collegiate season earning her a place on the 1st Team All-Panhandle. In high school, the Trussville, Alabama, native set the school record for steals averaging 2.9 a game her senior season. She also averaged 12.1 points and four rebounds per game, which named her MVP and All-Tournament. Benson chose UCF because it made her feel at home with the players and staff.
Bankhead joins the incoming freshman class as a 6’0 guard from Windward High School in Los Angeles, California. As a junior, she averaged 13 points per game and shot 35% from beyond the arc. In addition, she has averaged four rebounds earning her All-First Team every season she has played at Windward. She was also given the opportunity to be coached by basketball legend, Kobe Bryant, and has been able to play on the prestigious EYBL Circuit through AAU. Bankhead picked UCF after feeling an instant connection with the coaches and the players.