HOW IT HAPPENED
Both sides opened the contest 5-13 from the field prior to the media timeout, with the UCF frontcourt providing all five of the squad’s points in the game's first five minutes. Fresh off her third-career 20-point performance a day ago, Khyala Ngodu found a pair of early buckets to gain some momentum for the Knights; however, a Demon Deacon three-pointer gave Wake Forest the 14-9 advantage after the opening 10 minutes of action.
Looking to bounce back after a difficult quarter from the field, the Knights responded after their opponents grew the lead to seven out of the break, courtesy of Audreonia Benson connecting on a three to spark a strong run. Within three minutes, the Black and Gold had taken a 21-18 five more points from Ngodu, and a tough finish by Leah Harmon in the paint.
Though in fashion with the back-and-forth first half, the Demon Deacons connected on a three of their own to take back the lead, before later leveling the bout at 25 apiece with seconds left on the clock, leaving a deadlock as both teams ventured into the locker room.
A swift 15 minutes were enough for each team to find their offensive rhythm out of the break. While a mere four three-pointers were attempted in the first half, both teams downed one to commence action in the second 20 minutes. Harmon’s first of the game was followed by Summer Yancy’s leveler from beyond the arch, sustaining the even nature of the duel into the media timeout.
A subsequent 7-0 Wake Forest scoring run was immediately dealt with by the Black and Gold, as jumpers from Samari Bankhead and Jacorriah Bracey separated free throws from Ngodu, hitting both to garner the junior her first double-double of the campaign. UCF’s 6-0 run to end the quarter put them back ahead 41-40.
The Knights sustained their run to commence the fourth quarter, growing their lead to a game-high five points at 47-42. However, an over four-minute scoring drought gave the Demon Deacons a window to charge back into the game, an opportunity they took. A 10-2 stretch preceded four free throws from UCF’s scoring leader, Harmon and Ngodu, to put the Black and Gold up one with under two minutes of play.
Three straight points from Wake Forest made a Harmon jumper all that was needed to send the tilt into overtime. In the extra five minutes of play, the Knights only connected on a pair of field goals, both by Ngodu, as their opponents hit their last four attempts to claim the 65-60 thriller.
UP NEXT
UCF will aim to jump back in the win column and leave the Discover Puerto Rico Classic tomorrow afternoon against Rice. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. EST.
