HOUSTON – The UCF women’s basketball team finished its regular season on a high note, snagging a 73-61 victory over Houston Sunday afternoon in the Fertitta Center.
The Knights (11-17, 4-14 Big 12) outrebounded Houston (5-24, 1-17) 40-27 while the Cougars committed just eight turnovers compared to the Black and Gold’s 14.
The Knights won the tip and Nevaeh Brown went downcourt and headed to the free-throw line after a shooting foul and put UCF on the board first. Both teams battled back and forth until Houston hit a three to take the lead, 9-7. The Black and Gold could not connect at the basket and went on a scoring drought for about two and a half minutes but Kaitlin Peterson broke up the dry spell with a layup. The Cougars continued to string together baskets, going 4-4 from the field in the last couple minutes of the first quarter to hold onto the lead, 21-16.
Emely Rodriguez swished it in from beyond the arc to get the Knights within three of the Cougars’ lead. Rodriguez’s three shifted the momentum which caused Peterson to get an and one and finished the three-point play to take the lead, 28-26. The Knights were firing on all cylinders and went on a 16-0 run to ensure they took the lead into the half, 36-28.
UCF came out of the half continuing its momentum tacking on a 6-0 run. The Knights went 8-15 from the field (53%) as they held onto their lead, 56-40.
Brown led off the fourth with an and-one and finished the three-point play and then Peterson made a jumper to give UCF its largest lead of the game, 61-41. The Cougars chipped away at the Black and Gold’s lead getting to within 10 points with 1:15 left in regulation. With 10 seconds left Peterson cashed in both free throws to ensure the Knights’ victory, 73-61.
Four Knights scored in double digits for the fourth time this season. Peterson led the squad with 25 points going 8-9 from the charity stripe. Brown recorded 13 points on the day and went 4-9 from the field. Rodriguez tallied 11 points and dished out four assists. Khyala Ngodu notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Knights will head to Kansas City, Missouri for the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship. UCF is set to face off against BYU in the first round of the tournament Wednesday, March 5 at 11 a.m. inside T-Mobile Center.