ORLANDO — The UCF women’s basketball team fell 92-51 to No. 12 TCU on Saturday afternoon in Addition Financial Arena to begin Big 12 conference play.
The Black and Gold (7-4, 0-1 Big 12), who are missing leading scorers Kaitlin Peterson and Hannah Gusters, who were out with illness, opened up the game with a jumper by Neveah Brown just under a minute into the quarter. The two squads went back and forth for the first few points before Emely Rodriguez sank a three to take an early lead. After a few fouls by the Knights, the Horned Frogs (12-1, 1-0) stabilized their lead. The quarter ended with TCU on top, 28-14.
Similar to the first, Brown opened up the scoring for the Knights in the second quarter with a three-pointer. Arek Angui subbed in early into the quarter and quickly made her mark with a layup. TCU continued to look dominant, going on a 4-0 run. Rodriguez was called to the line for the second time in the quarter and ended the run by sinking both shots. She was perfect at the line in the first half going 4-4. The Horned Frogs came out of the quarter with a 20-point lead, 53-33.
Rodriguez was responsible for the Knights first four points coming out of halftime. The two teams went back-and-forth exchanging points for the entirety of the third quarter. The Knights defense showed out this quarter only allowing 20 points, the lowest of the game. Lucie Castagne was able to notch her first points on the day with a fast-break layup from an opponent turnover. The Horned Frogs continued to hold onto their lead, 73-45.
Rodriguez was once again the owner of the Black and Gold’s first four points of the fourth. Achol Akot, who was returning from an ankle injury, was the second Knight to add to the score in the final quarter, notching her second layup of the game. UCF’s efforts weren't enough as TCU held them to only 19 points in the second half. The Horned Frogs continued to push to the end, taking the game 92-52.
Rodriguez was the Knights’ leading scorer with 17 points, followed by Brown registering 11. Rodriguez was also responsible for six rebounds, while Khyala Ngodu recorded four rebounds and two steals.
Up Next:
UCF heads to #14 West Virginia to open up the New Year against the Mountaineers with a New Year’s Day game at 2 p.m.
Here is the box score:
TCU 92, UCF 52
#12/15 TCU (12-1, 1-0 Big 12)
Madison Conner 8-15 3-3 24, Sedona Prince 8-11 6-7 22, Hailey Van Lith 5-9 2-2 14, Agnes Emma-Nnopu 3-7 0-0 9, Taylor Bigby 3-8 0-0 6, Deasia Merrill 3-4 0-0 6, Aaliyah Roberson 2-2 1-2 6, Knisha Godfrey 0-1 2-2 2, Una Jovanovic 1-1 0-0 2, Donovyn Hunter 0-3 1-2 1, Natalie Mazurek 0-1 0-0 0. Totals _ 33-62 15-18 92.
UCF (7-4, 0-1 Big 12)
Emely Rodriguez 6-20 4-4 17, Nevaeh Brown 5-14 11, Khyala Ngodu 2-5 3-5 7, Ally Stedman 0-4 0-0 0, Mahogany Chandler-Roberts 0-1 0-0 0, Summer Yancy 3-5 3-4 9, Achol Akot 1-2 2-2 4, Lucie Castagne 1-1 0-0 0, Arek Angui 1-2 0-0 2, Adeang Ring 0-1 0-0 0. Totals _ 19-55 12-17 52.
TCU 28 25 20 19 _ 92
UCF 14 19 12 7 _ 52
3-point field goals _ TCU 11-30 (Conner 5-10, Emma-Nnopu 3-6, Van Lith 2-4, Roberson 1-1, Hunter 0-3, Bigby 0-3, Prince 0-1, Godfrey 0-1, Mazurek 0-1); UCF 2-8 (Brown 1-4, Rodriguez 1-3, Stedman 0-1). Team fouls _ TCU 16; UCF 17. Fouled out _ UCF (Akot). Technical fouls _ none. Rebounds _ TCU 44 (Emma-Nnopu, Prince 7 each, Conner 5); UCF 21 (Rodriguez 6, Ngodu 4). Turnovers _ TCU 14; UCF 13. Assists _ TCU 22 (Conner 7, Van Lith 5); UCF 7 (Stedman, Akot 2 each). Steals _ TCU 5 (Conner 2); UCF 4 (Ngodu 2). Blocked shots _ TCU 8 (Prince 4); UCF 2 (Akot, Ring).
