ORLANDO - Despite a strong first half, a resurgent third quarter from No. 17 West Virginia was enough to hand UCF women’s basketball a 74-62 defeat in the program’s senior night Space Game.
The ‘Nauts held a 27-25 advantage after the first 20 minutes, limiting the Mountaineers' offense to a 31 percent shooting clip. However, one of the Big 12’s best presses created issues for UCF in the third quarter, flipping the game in their corner before withholding a late fourth-quarter run from the hosts.
Khyala Ngodu led the way for UCF, dominating the paint with 21 points and nine rebounds. Senior Kristol Ayson tallied 12 points across a full 40 minutes on the court, securing her third-consecutive game with 10 or more points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Just minutes after the senior ceremonies concluded, the heightened weight of the night showed early on, as the ‘Nauts jumped out to an 8-2 lead behind jumpers from Kristol Ayson and Khyala Ngodu, along with clinical layups by Mahogany Chandler-Roberts. Eventually holding a 10-4 lead into the first media timeout, the UCF defense held the visiting Mountaineers to a 2-6 clip from the field.
The stifling West Virginia press began to cause issues out of the break, as a series of UCF turnovers led to sustained offensive pressure, and a subsequent pair of threes tied the contest at 10 apiece. A tough finish at the rim from Chandler-Roberts broke the dry spell and led to another transition basket from Ayson, giving the ‘Nauts a 16-14 lead after the opening 10 minutes of action.
While UCF found opportunities with ease in the first period, the beginning stages of the second told a different tale, with West Virginia holding UCF to just two attempts in the first three minutes. A Chandler-Roberts free throw broke a five-point run from the Mountaineers to commence the second quarter.
UCF’s first field goal of the period came with just under five minutes on the clock, cutting a game-high West Virginia lead to just four. From there, the ‘Nuats took flight and pieced together an 8-2 run to end the half with a 27-25 advantage. Post’s Chandler-Roberts and Ngodu combined for 17 points to highlight an overall 22-12 difference in the paint.
Out of the intermission, the 17th-ranked Mountaineers looked the part, completely flipping the contest with a 23-4 run in a seven-minute stretch. Continued turnovers gave the visitors opportunities at all three levels, with 18 points in the paint spotlighting the stark change from the first half.
While a defensive lapse put the ‘Nauts in a hole entering the fourth, adjustments held the Mountaineers to just two points across four minutes, intertwining with a 10-2 run to bring the hosts back into the bout.
Though for every sequence UCF put pressure on West Virginia, the visitors hit key threes down the stretch to hold off the ‘Nauts.
UP NEXT
UCF will venture to Houston for its regular-season finale. Tipoff on Sunday from the Fertitta Center is set for 3 p.m. EST.
SINGLE GAME AND SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
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.