(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
Game Recap
Freshman Masseny Kaba is making coming into her own, as the UCF Knights enter the early part of their American Athletic Conference schedule. In a 60-42 win over the SMU Mustangs, Kaba posted a game-high 16 points in the Knights’ (10-5, 2-0 in AAC) second AAC win of the season on Jan. 3.
SMU (6-9, 0-2 in AAC) led 10-8 after the first quarter, but that was a short-lived lead. UCF out-scored the Mustangs 52-32 the rest of the way. The Knights brought the lead to 18 with less than a minute in the third, leading 44-29.
The Mustangs cut UCF’s lead to 10 points less than four minutes into the fourth quarter. UCF quelled any hope of a comeback with a 10-2 run over the final 5:34 of the game.
In addition to Kaba, Korneila Wright and Lawriell Wilson scored in double figures, each tallying 10 points. Nyala Shuler recorded a game-high 9 rebounds, as Zakiya Saunders tied her season-high for assists with 7.
Player of the Game: F Masseny Kaba
Kaba has become a mainstay in head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson’s lineup. That was proven in UCF’s latest game, as she recorded a career-high 38 minutes against SMU. Kaba shot 6-for-14 from the field, including 4-for-6 from the rebound and collected 7 rebounds (5 offensive).
What’s next?
The Knights host Wichita State University on Saturday at 2 p.m.
NDR Notes
- Kaba recorded a career-high 38 minutes in the win over SMU.
- With their 10th win, the Knights have won 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since doing so from 2012 to 2014.
- UCF’s win over SMU was the first road win at SMU since the 2014-15 season.
- The Knights are 2-0 to start AAC play for the first time since the 2014-15 season. That year, UCF went 9-21 and 5-13 in the AAC.
- SMU was limited to eight points in the second quarter, the 12th time UCF has held an opponent to single digits in a quarter.
Scoring
Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
SMU Mustangs | 10 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 42 |
UCF Knights | 8 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 60 |
Statistics and Starting Lineups
Team Leaders
SMU Mustangs | UCF Knights | |
Points | McKenzie Adams (14) | Masseny Kaba (16) |
Rebounds | Dai’ja Thomas (9) | Nyala Shuler (9) |
Assists | Ariana Whitfield (5) | Zakiya Saunders (7) |
Blocks | Dai’ja Thomas (3) | Nyala Shuler (5) |
Steals | McKenzie Adams (2) | Masseny Kaba Lawriell Wilson (3) |
Turnovers | Ariana Whitfield, Johnasia Cash, Morgan Smith (3) | Masseny Kaba (4) |
Minutes | McKenzie Adams (38) | Masseny Kaba (38) |
Team Statistics
Reb (O-D) | Ast | TOs | Blk | Stl | |
SMU Mustangs | 40 (19-21) | 12 | 21 | 7 | 3 |
UCF Knights | 36 (13-23) | 16 | 13 | 7 | 13 |
Shooting Percentages
SMU Mustangs | UCF Knights | |
FG% | 29.8% | 42.9% |
3FG% | 36.4% | 33.3% |
FT% | 57.1% | 84.6% |
SMU Mustangs starting lineup: McKenzie Adams (G), Kiara Perry (G), Ariana Whitfield (G), Dai’ja Thomas (F), Klara Bradshaw (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 host Wichita State on Saturday, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
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