GAME INFORMATION
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 11
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
TV Talent: Scott Adams (PxP), Ben Hazel (Analyst), Kinsley Catarineau (Sideline)
Live Stats: click here
Career Knights
The Black and Gold were on fire Monday against South Alabama, with numerous players racking up career highs in their respective categories in the first game of a five-contest homestand in Additional Financial Arena. Candace Kpetikou set a career mark with 14 points on an efficient 6-for-7 performance from the floor, missing just one shot late in the fourth quarter. Nyla McFadden also found success, bringing in 11 rebounds on the evening, three offensive and seven defensive. It was an incredibly balanced performance from the sophomore, highlighted by four boards each in the second and third quarter. Vittoria Blasigh tied her career best, grabbing four steals off of turnovers from the Jaguars.
Nationally Ranked Knights
The Knights have been climbing the stats sheets in their opening three contests, finding themselves ranked towards the top in the league and in the nation in several categories. The team averages 5.7 blocks per game, good for fifth in the Big 12 and 39th in the country. With 8 total blocks on the season, Mahogany Chandler-Roberts is on top of the league and 12th in the nation. The junior is also third in the conference in in total field goals with 20. Vittoria Blasigh remains perfect from the courtesy stripe, also atop the Big 12 in free throw percentage.
Welcome To The Mo Show
Mahogany Chandler-Roberts has been nearly unstoppable in the first games of the 2026-27 campaign, averaging 17.6 points and 2.67 blocks per contest. She set career highs in back-to-back games, compiling 20 points at Florida before breaking that record the next game with 21 against South Alabama. A Portland, Ore., native, Chandler-Roberts denied four shots against the Jaguars in just the first quarter, breaking her previous high in blocks. As one of just three returners from a year ago, the program will continue to rely on her to produce on both offense and defense and she continues to deliver on all ends of the hardwood.
Road Lessons
Though UCF was unable to come up with the win in its first road test of the season, a lot of lessons were learned in the contest. Vittoria Blasigh had her first breakout game of the campaign after remaining quiet in the season opener, scoring 18 points with three triples and four assists. Mahogany Chandler-Roberts also exploded, setting a career high with 20 points in addition to seven rebounds. It marked just the fifth time in her three-year career that she has led the team in scoring, showing promise of a strong season from the junior.
The KEY to Success
It was an explosive debut for SFA transfer Key Roseby in her first game as a Knight against Florida A&M Tuesday. She led the team with 22 points, knocking down an astounding six three-pointers on eight attempts. Her scoring performance is the third-best of any Big 12 player this season. Roseby was just short of her career-high of 26 points, but her three-pointer total surpassed her previous best by two. The junior added six rebounds, three assists and a steal to her stat line, leading the Knights to victory.
Game One, Game Won
It was a happy night in Orlando Tuesday, as new head coach Gabe Lazo led his program to victory No. 1 on the 2026-27 season over Florida A&M. Lazo, the first Latino Power 4 women's basketball head coach, became the sixth coach in UCF history to win their coaching debut at the helm of the Black & Gold. Downing the Rattlers 85-56, it marked a promising start to a new chapter in Orlando.
Well Balanced Offense
The Black and Gold relied on all players in the season opener to get the win. Key Roseby poured in 22 points, Caitlyn Jones and Mikayla Johnson added 13 each, Candace Kpetikou dropped in 12 and Mahogany Chandler-Roberts completed the double-digit scorers with 11. The combination marked the first time that five Knights scored in double figures since Nov. 16, 2024, when UCF defeated Stetson, 89-58.