ORLANDO - A dominant performance from Hannah Gusters led the UCF women’s basketball team (6-0) to an 80-55 victory against FAMU (0-6) Sunday afternoon in Addition Financial Arena.
Gusters notched yet another double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, marking her fourth of the season and third consecutive. Following closely behind, Peterson tallied 21 points and three steals. Emely Rodriguez joined Peterson and Gusters scoring 18 points and four rebounds.
UCF started the matchup with a quick bucket from Gusters within the first minute. The Knights’ continued their dominant play with a 10-0 run for two and a half minutes. Rodriguez along with Peterson both had six points for the quarter. UCF sealed the first quarter 21-10. The Knights put the pressure on the Rattlers early forcing nine turnovers compared to the Knights' three.
To start the second quarter, FAMU came out with a three right away. The Knights responded back with a putback layup from Gusters. Shortly after that Gusters was able to record a big and-one layup. Two possessions before halftime, Peterson was left wide open and drained a three. With six seconds left, FAMU tried to put up a last second three but was denied with a big block from Summer Yancy. The Black and Gold ended the second quarter up 34-25.
In the middle of the third quarter, the Black and Gold went on a swift 9-0 run ignited by a three-pointer from Yancy off a Rattler turnover. The Knights continued to cruise earning a 23-point lead following two made free throws from Khyala Ngodu, 51-28. The Knights continued to fire on all cylinders and ended the third with a 57-36 advantage.
UCF continued to put the pressure on, as Gusters recorded another and-one that sparked a 6-0 run to put the Knights up by 24, 66-41. The Black and Gold kept the momentum throughout the remainder of the game as they closed out their sixth win of the season, 80-55.
The Knights head out west for their first road test of the season, as they play in the UNLV Thanksgiving Classic. UCF faces UNLV Wednesday, Nov. 27, followed by a game against Montana State Friday, Nov. 29 with both games are slated for a 3 p.m. start.