ORLANDO, Fla. - "For the first twelve minutes, I was sure B-CU was going to win that game," was a thought overheard from a sports commentator following tonight's matchup between the Knights of the University of Central Florida and the Lady Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman Women's Basketball. B-CU got off to a great start, going shot for shot with UCF, forcing ties, and claiming a couple leads. However, costly turnovers and missed shots gave the Knights an opportunity on which they capitalized, first building a strong halftime lead and then taking command in the second half, going on to win 80-46.
In the opening half, there was no doubt that the Lady Wildcats were in the game, on the road at UCF Arena against the Knights. For every UCF score, B-CU had an answer, tying the game up four times in the first few minutes of the game. From the start, it looked like a high-scoring shootout in the making, but the pace of the game began to slow at the mid-point of the half.
As the half wound down, UCF began to lay a heavy press on the Lady Wildcats, and was able to force turnovers and started to build a lead. The Knights got second chance shots which they converted on missed shots and free throws, allowing them to head into the locker room at the half, leading the Lady Wildcats 37-26.
However, the second half looked like a different game, as UCF claimed control of the tempo and continued to throw a strong zone press at B-CU. Lady Wildcat shots just wouldn't fall and UCF capitalized on turnovers to extend their lead and put B-CU away with several scoring runs coming on the heels of Lady Wildcat scoring droughts.
Although the Lady Wildcats outmatched the Knights scoring in the paint, the real trouble for B-CU came in the backcourt, where many of the turnovers occurred against UCF's quick guards. UCF turned in 24 points scored off of B-CU's 26 turnovers.
The Knights made their attack from multiple angles, but most notably from Marshay White, who scored 23 points to lead UCF, going 4-8 from three-point range, while also making 6 assists, and grabbing 7 rebounds. The Knights' rebound leader in tonight's game was D'Nay Daniels, who came away with 10 boards.
The Lady Wildcats best scoring came from their perimeter shooter, Sarah Bolden and Jasmine Daniels hit the boards, both earning 8 rebounds in the game. Demetria Frank finished with 5 steals against the Knights.
Up next for the Lady Wildcats is a trip to Jacksonville, 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, to face the Ospreys of North Florida. The Lady Wildcats downed UNF in their last meeting, 68-56, last season at the ICI Center in Daytona Beach.
###
