Women's Hoops Schools FIU 79-61 in Annual Kids Day GameWomen's Hoops Schools FIU 79-61 in Annual Kids Day Game

Women's Hoops Schools FIU 79-61 in Annual Kids Day Game

by Cam Costa
Box Score

ORLANDO - Looking to give kids some knowledge in Addition Financial Arena on the program’s annual school day Tuesday Afternoon, the UCF women’s basketball team charged past FIU courtesy of a strong second-half display en route to a convincing 79-61 victory.

The Knights (2-1) bounced back into the win column behind a balanced scoresheet, as four hit double digits while also dishing out an impressive 19 assists. While up just five at the break, UCF outscored the Panthers (1-2) in the third quarter, 22-10, securing control of the contest and, in turn, giving minutes to each player on the roster.

QUICK HITS

  • Samari Bankhead set a new career-high off the bench, scoring 13 points while nailing a half-court buzzer-beater to end the first period.
  • UCF shot 90% (18-20) from the charity stripe. This marks the highest free-throw percentage in a game for the Knights with a minimum of 15 free-throw attempts since Nov. 21, 2018, against Central Michigan (14-15) and the best mark under head coach Sytia Messer.
  • Leah Harmon hit double digits once again with a 15-point performance against FIU; her 46 points through her first three games are tied for fifth for any Knight over the past decade.
  • Fifth-year Jacorriah Bracey paced the Black and Gold in scoring for the first time this campaign behind her 12th-career performance with 15 or more points, tallying a season-high 17 on an efficient six-for-eight mark from the field.
  • The Knights have held two of their three opponents to six or fewer assists thus far, while also continuing to control transitional opportunities, outscoring the visitors 19-10 on fast break this afternoon to move their overall total to 56-26.

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a back-and-forth first period, with the Panthers going on a 7-0 run late in the quarter to tie the game at 13-13 after the Black and Gold found early momentum from the jump. Needing a spark to end the opening 10 minutes, the Knights finished the quarter with a bang, as Bankhead drilled a half-court shot to beat the buzzer and give the Knights a 16-13 lead to end the first.

The second period saw more of the same, with the Panthers taking a 27-26 lead with 1:32 remaining in the half. UCF bounced back and went on a 6-0 run led by three-point buckets by Jacorriah Bracey and Leah Harmon to give the Black and Gold a 32-27 lead to end the half.

For Harmon and Bankhead, the tandem accounted for over 50 percent of UCF’s total (24) at the break, going a combined 5 for 11 behind the arch.

Commencing second-half action, Khyala Ngodu took over with six consecutive points to garner the Knights a nine-point cushion. The dominance was sustained throughout the third, as UCF held FIU to just 10 points while adding 22 of their own. Alongside the outstanding defense, Bracey and Ngodu each dropped eight points collectively, shooting 7-for-9 to give the Knights a 54-37 lead entering the fourth quarter. 

UCF maintained the double-digit lead in the fourth period, with eight different knights scoring a bucket to give UCF the 79-61 triumph. The Knights bullied the Panthers in the paint through the final 20 minutes, scoring 30 of their 34 points from that range.

UP NEXT

The Black and Gold will continue their season-opening five-game homestand on Friday as it welcomes Florida A&M to Addition Financial Arena for a 7 p.m. tip.

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.