Victor Tan contributed to this report.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The UCF Knights won an overtime thriller over Jacksonville University 65-60, as they hosted the first round in the 2017 Women’s National Invitational Tournament Wednesday night at CFE Arena.
“Our seniors really stepped up,” UCF head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said after the game. “I’m very proud of them because we have another day. We’re alive again, and that’s big because it’s March madness.”
In what could have been her last home game as a Knight, senior Zakiya Saunders posted 25 points, five rebounds and four assists while playing all 45 minutes of the game.
“It was on my mind for a little bit, but I was not really focused on that. I was focused on what we needed to do to win,” Saunders said after the win.
UCF (22-10) struggled on offense to start the game, as the Knights scored just 16 points on 26 percent shooting in the first half. Abrahamson-Henderson sparked her team by singling out her seniors at halftime.
“I had [Saunders] and Aliyah [Gregory] stand up in front of the board and said this is the last game for them. ‘Are we gonna play for them or not?'” the second-year Knights head coach said.
The message was well-received by the team, especially by junior guard Lawriell Wilson, who scored all 15 of her points in the second half and overtime.
“I just wanted to get this win for the seniors. I’ve been through a lot with Zee and Aliyah, and I wanted to see them play another day ’cause they deserve it,” Wilson said after the game. “So I wanted to go out there and play hard for them.”
In the second half, the Knights’ offense improved significantly. UCF scored 18 points in third quarter, 15 in the fourth and 16 in overtime, shooting 59.6 percent from the field in all three periods combined.
UCF and the Dolphins consistently fought for the lead, as there were nine lead changes and eight ties. Wilson drained a go-ahead jumper with eight seconds to play in the fourth, but that was soon met by a buzzer-beating, game-tying 3-pointer by Jacksonville’s Jasmyn Brown to send the game to overtime.
Though UCF was out-shot by the Dolphins in overtime, the Knights shot more efficiently, shooting 80 percent from the field. The Knights worked their way to the free-throw line, going 8-for-8, too.
UCF played just one other overtime game this season, losing 78-74 to the Pacific Tigers.
Who’s Next?
The Knights will travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to play the University of Alabama Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
For more on the Knights, as they continue their run in the WNIT, follow Carl-Max Millionard on Twitter at @cmillionard3.
