Women's Hoops Secures First Frontcourt Addition, Signing Miami's Candace Kpetikou

ORLANDO - After securing signatures of a talented trio of guards to the 2026-27 roster, UCF women’s basketball and head coach Gabe Lazo have announced their first frontcourt addition of the transfer portal season, signing former Washington State and Miami center Candace Kpetikou.

Hailing from Niamey, Niger, Kpetikou laced up for the Hurricanes last season, featuring in 31 games while averaging seven minutes. A physical player, the future Knight averaged 2.4 rebounds per game and denied eight shots, including a pair of 10-rebound performances against Bethune-Cookman and Georgia State.

Kpetikou ventured to Miami after spending her first two collegiate seasons at Washington State, where she appeared in 33 games in 2024-25 after redshirting her freshman season.

Kpetikou's Career Stats

SEASON	GP-GS	MIN	FG-FGA	FG%	3FG-3FGA	3FG%	FT-FTA	FT%	PTS/G	AST/G	REB/G	BLK	STL
2024-25	33-7	11.1	48-112	42.9	0-0	--	15-30	50.0	3.4	0.2	3.2	25	11
2025-26	31-1	7.5	20-46	43.5	0-0	--	6-20	30.0	1.5	0.2	2.4	8	1
TOTAL	64-8	9.4	68-158	43.0	0-0	--	21-50	42.0	1.7	0.2	1.7	33	12

Kpetikou garnered the starting nod in seven contests and concluded the campaign averaging 3.4 points per game on an efficient 42.9 percent clip from the field (48-112). A force on the defensive end, she also reeled in 3.2 boards per game and nearly a block a game (0.8)

Against Saint Martin’s, she recorded her first-career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Throughout the season, Kpetikou found her stride with three consecutive double-digit scoring performances, tallying 10 at Santa Clara, 12 vs Portland and 13 vs LMU (CA).

Kpetikou rejected a career-high four blocks vs. Pepperdine to showcase five games with multiple blocks.

Before committing to Washington State, Kpetikou was named the 2022-23 Mountain League Defensive Player of the Year while leading Saint Joseph High School to a perfect 14-0 record her senior year.

That season, she averaged 12.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game and was named the MVP of the 31st Annual Central Coast All-Star Basketball Spectacular after scoring 26 points and snagging 22 boards.

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