• Final stats

UCF Knights guard Zakiya Saunders is performing at her best, right now. That’s most indicated by her second-consecutive 20-point performance in a 47-44 win over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (8-13, 2-6 in American Athletic Conference) Saturday afternoon at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.

Saunders’ team-leading 20 points didn’t go uncontested. Tulsa’s Shug Dickson scored a game-high 23 points, as Saunders and Dickson were the only two scorers to break double digits. Both shot 8-for-18 from the field, and both were the only players to record 40 minutes.

“I think each team played really good defense,” Knights head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said after the win, per UCF’s press release. “I’m very proud of [my team] for focusing and finishing every game off.”

Both teams remained mostly even until the middle part of the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Korneila Wright scored on back-to-back jumpers to tie the game and then to take a two-point lead less than five minutes into the fourth for UCF (14-7, 6-2 in AAC). Saunders followed that effort with a layup for a four-point cushion that was narrowed by two Erika Wakefield free throws.

Knights guard Aliyah Gregory and freshman Masseny Kaba gave UCF a six-point cushion with buckets on back-to-back possessions, as the Knights led 43-37 with 1:49 to go. Saunders and Gregory staved off any remaining Tulsa comeback with free throws.

The Knights led by three entering halftime and quickly elevated their lead to eight before the midway point of the third. Wright fed Kaba for an inside look one minute into the second half, and Saunders drained her first and only 3 of the game for a 26-18 lead.

Both teams nearly entered halftime level, but Knights guard Kayla Thigpen beat the halftime buzzer with the Knights’ only other 3 of the game.

Who’s Next?

The Knights travel to face the Cincinnati Bearcats on Tuesday to conclude a two-game road trip. UCF went 1-1 against Cincinnati last season, losing the first game 63-57 at Cincinnati and winning the second 64-44 at home.

For more on the Knights, as they look to finish their road trip with a victory, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.

To contact Victor, you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.