Tulsa Drops 53-42 Decision to UCF

Saturday, December 19

Reynolds Center

1:00 pm

Tulsa

1-1,0-1AAC

UCF

4-1,2-0AAC

UCF

Tulsa

Tulsa Drops 53-42 Decision to UCF

12/19/2020 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Box Score in PDF l Season Stats in PDF l Photo Gallery

Maya Mayberry and Wyvette Mayberry both scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough as Tulsa dropped a 53-42 decision to UCF on Saturday afternoon at the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The Golden Hurricane fell to 1-1 on the season and 0-1 in American Athletic Conference play, while the Knights moved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the league.

This was TU's first home game since March 2, 2020, totaling 291 days since the team played a game at the Reynolds Center.

Tulsa shot just 30.2-percent from the field, including 14.3-percent from three-point range, and was 8-of-14 (57.1-percent) from the free throw line. All of TU's points came from the starting lineup as the UCF bench outscored the TU bench, 20-0.

"The most disappointing thing is our three-point shooting," Head Coach Matilda Mossman said. "We weren't as good as we were against Oklahoma State. When we aren't making buckets from the outside, that puts a lot more pressure on our inside guys. I thought defensively we did a great job until the last four minutes of the game."

Maya Mayberry had a team-best 11 points, while her sister, Wyvette, added 10. Desiree Lewis contributed eight points, Rebecca Lescay had seven and Elin Hrafnkelsdottir posted six. Hrafnkelsdottir registered a team-best seven rebounds, two blocks and two assists, while Lescay had four steals.

Tulsa jumped out to a 7-0 lead (6:34) and then climbed to a 15-6 advantage at the 3:02 mark of the first quarter, but the Knights cut their deficit to just four (17-13) at the end of the frame. Maya Mayberry had eight of the Hurricane's points in the first 10 minutes.

Masseny Kaba pulled UCF to within one, 17-16, on a made layup and free throw at the 8:44 mark of the second quarter, and then Diamond Battles gave the Knights their first lead of the game (18-17) on a put-back layup with 6:35 on the clock.

After a solid 46-shooting percentage in the first frame, Tulsa turned cold, hitting just two of their 17 shot attempts in the second quarter. Fortunately for TU the Knights were just 4-of-15 as they outscored the Hurricane, 10-4, in the frame and took a 23-21 advantage into the break.

Tulsa bounced back from their shooting troubles in the second quarter with 45.5-percent from the field in the third quarter, but UCF had a 14-11 scoring edge in the frame for a 37-32 advantage with one quarter to play.

TU's shooting woes returned in the fourth quarter (2-of-10), as the Knights pulled to a game-high 13-point lead (53-40) before a pair of free throws made by Lewis ended the game.

UCF was led by four players in double figures, including Diamond Battles (12), Courtajia Sanders (11), Kaba (10) and Asia Todd (10). Kaba pulled down 13 rebounds and had two steals, while Battles had six assists.

UCF shot 42.3-percent from the field, 50-percent from behind the arc and 55.6-percent from the free throw line.

Tulsa will return to action on Wednesday, December 23 against Temple in Philadelphia, Pa.