UCF Beats SMU for 2nd AAC Win

The UCF Knights remain undefeated in American Athletic Conference play, as they take down the SMU Mustangs in their second game of the early conference schedule.

By
Victor Tan
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University of Central Florida forward Masseny Kaba shoots a free throw during a 76-60 win over Georgia Southern University at CFE Arena on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
(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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