Women's Hoops Defeats SIUE, 81-71Women's Hoops Defeats SIUE, 81-71

Women's Hoops Defeats SIUE, 81-71

by Aiden Kocol
Box Score

ORLANDO- A 35-point performance from Kaitlin Peterson led the UCF women’s basketball team (5-0) to an 81-71 victory against SIUE (1-4) Friday night in Addition Financial Arena.  

Hannah stepped up tonight, especially in the end when we needed her to. Kaitlin came up to me at the half and told me we weren't going to lose this game. She stepped up in third with 16 of her 35 points.

Sytia MesserHead Women's Basketball Coach

SIUE opened the game strong, sinking a layup and three-pointer within the first 40 seconds of play to go up 5-0. Achol Akot got the Knights on the board but the offense was slow moving from there as a three-minute field goal drought left UCF trailing behind. Hannah Gusters broke the trend and sank seven of her eight free throws in the first quarter, giving the Black and Gold the momentum needed to take the lead back by the end of it, 20-17.

 

A four-minute scoring drought plagued the Knights once again to start the second quarter, allowing the Cougars to go on a 9-0 scoring run to get back in the lead. Gusters gave the team the energy to turn the offense around putting in a second-chance jumper. Peterson tallied seven of the team’s 15 points in the second quarter, leaving UCF trailing by one at the half, 36-35. 

 

"Guys we got to protect our home court and focus on free throws, that was my message to the team at the half."

Sytia MesserHead Women's Basketball Coach

Peterson took the offensive reins in the second half of the game scoring 23 out of the 46 total points. As a team, the Knights were able to outshoot the Cougars 46-35 with a 61% field goal percentage and picked up the offensive pressure in the second. However, SIUE stayed tough fighting to stay in the game, tying it one last time in the third at 51. An and one from Gusters helped ignite the Knights on a 6-0 run to take the lead, 55-51.

A three-pointer from Neveah Brown in the fourth continued to shift the momentum to the Knights as they held onto the lead throughout the remainder of the game to earn the 81-71 victory. 

The win against the Cougars marked the third consecutive season that the Knights have started their season 5-0.  

Gusters recorded a stellar game with 20 points and 10 rebounds to grab her second consecutive double-double and third this season. Peterson’s 35 points tied for a career-high. The Knights led the night with 10 steals and 40 rebounds against SIUE’s four steals and 30 rebounds. The team also recorded five blocks.  

The Knights have a quick turnaround as they host Florida A&M on Sunday, November 24 at 1 p.m. The Rattlers head into the matchup with a 0-5 record.