ORLANDO - Ahead of its fourth season under head coach Sytia Messer and third as a member of the Big 12 Conference, the UCF women's basketball team is set for a Tuesday night exhibition with Edwards Waters at Addition Financial Arena.
With tipoff set for 7 p.m., the meeting will mark the second consecutive year the Knights have squared off with the Tigers in preseason play. Admission will be free for all fans.
About the 2025-26 Knights
UCF women's basketball will open its fourth season under head coach Sytia Messer and its third as a member of the Big 12 Conference on Monday, November 3, against Bethune-Cookman. Under Messer, the Knights are 3-0 in season openers, having outscored opponents 249-139. An 11-game non-conference slate is highlighted by the program's second trip to the Discover Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan (also participated in 2023) from November 26-28.
After claiming its first Big 12 Tournament win earlier this year against BYU, UCF will welcome the Cougars to open conference action on Saturday, December 20. In total, its 2025-26 schedule features 17 home contests, nine games on the road and three neutral site matchups. The Knights will travel 18,912 miles during the campaign.
Coach Messer returns a pair of key frontcourt contributors in Khyala Ngodu and Mahogany Chandler-Roberts, along with versatile playmaker Summer Yancy. The formers saw minutes in all but one game last season (29 of 30), with Ngodu garnering starts down the stretch with four double-digit-point performances in her last six contests. Ngodu set career marks in points (6.9 p/g) and rebounds (5.9 p/g). Chandler-Roberts and Yancy each contributed as freshmen under Messer, with the latter boasting an efficient .458 shooting percentage, while Chandler-Roberts was one of four to secure 100-plus rebounds.
Eight transfers add a combined 17 seasons of collegiate experience to Orlando, as coach Messer added both physicality and Power Four experience to her roster. Savannah Scott (Auburn) boasted a standout freshman season two seasons ago, while Leah Harmon (Miami) and Kayanna Cox (SMU) each contributed to their respective teams as first years.
Kristol Ayson (Tulsa) and Jacorriah Bracey (Southern Miss) each hold four years of experience themselves, while Jasmynne Gibson (North Florida) was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Freshman Team in 2024-25. Pensacola State transfer Audreonia Benson was named First-Team All-Panhandle and averaged 11.9 points per game in two seasons with the Pirates. Logan Reed (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) rounds out the exciting transfer class after redshirting her freshman season.
The Knights welcome three promising freshmen to campus ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, each making long journeys from their hometowns to suit up in Black and Gold. Samari Bankhead was a standout guard at Windward High School in Los Angeles, California, receiving an opportunity to be coached by basketball legend Kobe Bryant during her youth career.
Swedish natives Felicia Scholander and Meja Hansel, who both competed on the national team alongside one another, each bring something exciting to the team. Scholander shot 33 percent from beyond the arc in Sweden's Basketettan League, while Hansel's height and physicality saw the freshman average 6.3 rebounds per game with RIG Lulea in the Basketettan League.
SINGLE GAME AND SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
UCF women's basketball single-match and season tickets are on sale now. Be sure to catch all the action at Addition Financial Arena. Tickets can be purchased online at ucfknights.com/tickets or by calling the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.