Efficient Zakiya Saunders Leads Knights to 2nd-straight Win

(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Game Recap

The UCF Knights (6-4) won their second-straight game in a double-digit, 47-32 win over Boston University (5-4) at Case Gym on Dec. 13 in front of 301 fans. It was the fourth time the Knights won by double digits this season.

UCF and BU battled to a one-point UCF lead after the first quarter, but it was the Knights’ second- and third-quarter defense that gave them the separation they needed to win the game.

After holding Georgia Southern University to a season-low three points in the first quarter in the Knights’ last win, UCF set another season-low in points allowed, holding the Terriers to two points in the second quarter and seven points in the third; in the meantime, the Knights scored 23 points in that span.

Zakiya Saunders led the way with another efficient outing, shooting an 8-for-16 clip, including 4-for-6 from the free-throw line, for a 20-point, 9-rebound performance. Nyala Shuler also almost recorded a double-double, scoring 10 and grabbing 9 rebounds, as Aliyah Gregory scored just 6 points on 2-for-12 shooting.

UCF’s defense held Boston to 31 percent shooting from the field, including 15.8 percent from 3-point range (3-for-19). The Knights, however, also shot poorly, making just 34 percent of their field goals and going 3-for-10 from deep.

Player of the Game: G Zakiya Saunders

Saunders tied her career-high in scoring with a 20-point outing, coming up short just one rebound of a double-double. She shot an efficient 8-for-16 from the field after posting 70 percent (7-for-10) from the field against Georgia Southern. Saunders is averaging 18.0 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game 4.0 assists per game and 3.0 steals per game in 69 minutes over the last two games. She played a season-high 37 minutes against BU.

What’s next?

The Knights travel to face the UC Davis Aggies on Sunday at 7 p.m. That will be the second game of a three-game road trip.

NDR Notes

• The Knights have won two games in a row three times this season.
• Saunders tied her season-high in points, scoring 20 against Boston.
• UCF held Boston to two points in the second quarter, the lowest it’s held a team all season in a single quarter. The previous low was three against Georgia Southern and Gardner-Webb University.
• Saunders recorded a season-high in minutes, playing 37 minutes of the win.
• The Knights’ win over Boston is their fourth double-digit win this season.

Scoring

Statistics

Team Leaders

Boston Terriers starting lineup: Katie Nelson (G), Payton Hauck (G), Corrine Williams (G), Nia Irving (F), Sophie Beaudry (C)

UCF Knights starting lineup: Korneila Wright (G), Zakiya Saunders (G), Aliyah Gregory (G), Nyala Shuler (F), Masseny Kaba (F)

For more on the Knights, as they look to play their second game of a three-game road trip, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.