Knights Open Conference Play with Blowout Win

(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)

Game Recap

The UCF Knights played one of their most efficient games in the American Athletic Conference opener. Their overall 49-percent shooting helped UCF (9-5, 1-0 in AAC) propel itself to a blowout, 76-46 win over Temple University (8-5, 0-1 in AAC) on Dec. 30 at CFE Arena in front of 2,789 fans.

Four Knights scored in double figures, as guard Aliyah Gregory scored a game-high 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting. Finding her rhythm as the conference schedule begins, Zakiya Saunders added 17 points, and Masseny Kaba and Nyala Shuler each had 13 and 12 points respectively.

UCF leapt to a hot start, leading 41-25 by halftime. Gregory was responsible for 16 of the Knights’ first-half points, scoring 10 and recording three assists. Less than two minutes into the game, she already was responsible for six of UCF’s points.

“We set the tempo at the beginning of the game,” Knights head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderosn said after the game, per UCF’s press release. “It was our defense. We drew fouls; we keyed in on [Temple’s key players].”

The closest Temple got to tying the game or taking the lead was late in the second quarter when the Owls came within eight. Jamesha Paul, who finished with 5 points, and Saunders helped the Knights take back a double-digit lead, spurring an 11-3 run to close the half. Paul hit a jumper off a Saunders assist, and Saunders hit her own jumper to start the run. Paul reached her points total in the run, scoring off a fast-break, and-1 layup.

Player of the Game: G Aliyah Gregory

Gregory led all scorers in just 22 minutes of play. She also added 3 assists and 3 steals and turned the ball over just once. At 53.3 percent, an 8-for-15 shooting clip, Gregory played her most efficient game this season.

What’s next?

UCF will have to wait until the new year to play another game, as the Knights will travel to face the SMU Mustangs on Jan. 3 for their second conference game of the season.

NDR Notes

• Gregory played her most efficient game of the season, shooting 53.3 percent from the field.
• UCF started conference play with a win this season after losing to the UConn Huskies 84-48 to open AAC play a season ago.
• Kaba has scored in double figures in three of her last four games, averaging 12.5 points per game in that stretch.
• The Knights have won five of their last six games.

Scoring

Statistics and Starting Lineups

Team Leaders

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

Temple Owls starting lineup: Emani Mayo (G), Deja Reynolds (G), Tanaya Atkinson (G), Mia Davis (F), Shannen Atkinson (C)

For more on the Knights, as they begin their conference schedule, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.