Nov. 28, 2007

Box Score

Orlando, Fla. - A strong defensive effort and easy baskets helped UCF fight off Bethune-Cookman University in women's basketball on Wednesday night, 73-52 at the New UCF Arena in Orlando, Fla.

B-CU (1-5) was held to just 16 points at the half, while committing 17 turnovers. That was pretty-much the statement of the game for the Wildcats as they looked to defeat their nemesis from Orlando for the first time in the Francis Simmons era.

"We have to do a better job of controlling the ball and doing something with it," stated B-CU head coach Francis Simmons. "If you look at the stat sheet, then you'll see they only outscored us by five points in the second half. That means we are getting into too big of a hole in the first half, and it's just too much to come back from in the second half."

In fact, B-CU trailed 32-16 at the break.

In the second half, UCF (4-3) used a strong shooting touch from guards Marshay White and D'Nay Daniels to push the Golden Knights lead out to 23 with just over six and a half minutes to play at 59-36.

B-CU did try to make a rally as they cut the lead to 14 behind the efforts of Natasha Ferguson who scored four consecutive points, as well as a lay-up by Keturah Newkirk. Both players scored double-digits on the night for the Wildcats.

But after four straight free throws from UCF's Jelisa Caldwell following back-to-back technical fouls on the B-CU bench, the Golden Knights were able to advance their lead back out to 23 ... as Caldwell connected on her first three-pointer of the night.

Newkirk and Ferguson paced the Wildcats on the night with 10 points each. Ferguson also collected eight rebounds and handed out three assists.

UCF was led by a double-double outing from Tia Lewis as she scored 14 points and picked up 16 rebounds. Emma Cannon added 10 rebounds for the Golden Knights. Also hitting double-digits for UCF was Daniels with a game-high 17 points, as well as White (14) and Caldwell (12).

UCF outscored the Wildcats, 40-22 in the paint, as well as 31-10 on second-chance points. The Wildcats gave up a season-high 60 rebounds to UCF, as they were beaten in the battle of the boards, 60-26.

B-CU held their own in the field goal shooting as they shot 35 percent to the Golden Knights' 38 percent.

B-CU will venture into Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) waters on Saturday, Dec. 1 with a match-up against rival Florida A&M at 2 p.m. inside Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach. For ticket information, please call the B-CU Ticket Office at (386) 481-2292.