HOW IT HAPPENED
Both sides were cold to open action in Orlando, going a combined 3-17 from the field during the first five minutes. A Jacorriah Bracey jump shot at the top of the key broke the stretch for the Knights, as a physical battle in the paint saw both teams secure early offensive boards.
The low-scoring affair persisted during the opening period, though early fouls from the hosts gave the Bearcats opportunities to get on the board at the charity stripe, connecting on six of nine attempts after a foul on a three-pointer in the dying seconds. The visitors claimed a 16-8 lead after the first ten minutes, as UCF’s offense couldn’t click into gear.
A tough and-one at the net for Summer Yancy opened the scoring for the Knights in the second, while offensive boards from Yancy and Meja Hansel, making her first appearance in Big 12 play, led to a jumper from Khyala Ngodu to spark some offensive momentum. Leah Harmon downed a three-pointer before also connecting on a jumper and four free throws to score nine consecutive points and bring the Black and Gold back within four with just over four minutes remaining.
A 0-6 run from the field to end the half from the Knights coincided with four turnovers in the final three minutes from Cincinnati, as the visitors took a 26-24 lead into the break after a low-scoring contest. Harmon paced UCF with 13 points, while Yancy grabbed four rebounds to impose the Knights’ presence in the paint.
Each team exchanged blows to open the second half, with four instances of a tie and four lead changes. An 8-0 run from the Knights out of the media timeout propelled the hosts back into the lead for the first time since the opening quarter, with Ngodu scoring four in the sequence to surpass double digits for the second-straight game.
However, Cincinnati took control of the third over the final two minutes, taking back the lead with an 8-0 run of its own to secure a 43-38 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Knights made a statement early in the fourth period, responding with a 11-0 scoring run in the first five minutes to take a 49-43 lead with 4:39 remaining. The Bearcats responded quickly with a 5-0 scoring run in one minute of play after the media timeout to bring the game within one (48-49). Both teams would go scoreless in the clutch minutes of the game, with Harmon breaking the slump, scoring a bucket with 23.7 seconds remaining on a driving layup to extend the lead to 51-48.
After the teams traded two points, Cincinnati, down three with 5.6 remaining, ran the clock out to hit a buzzer-beater from beyond the arc to send the game to overtime, 53-53.
Both teams opened overtime with shooting fouls, both going 1-2 from the line. No field goals were made in the first 2:05 of overtime, though the Bearcats ended the streak with Mya Perry’s fourth three-pointer of the night.
Unfortunately, the Knights fell short in overtime, unable to score a field goal during overtime until the last few seconds, but it was not enough as the Bearcats prevailed.
UP NEXT
The ‘Nauts will conclude their two-game homestand on Sunday at 2 p.m., welcoming Colorado to Addition Financial Arena for the program’s annual Space Game.
