Tulsa Trio Score in Double Figures in 61-48 Loss at #23 UCF

Wednesday, March 2

Orlando, Fla.

5:00 pm

Tulsa

15-9,5-8AAC

UCF

22-3,14-1AAC

Tulsa

UCF

Tulsa Trio Score in Double Figures in 61-48 Loss at #23 UCF

3/2/2022 7:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Game Book in PDF | Season Stats in PDF

Temira Poindexter, Wyvette Mayberry and Maddie Bittle all scored in double figures but it wasn't enough as Tulsa dropped a 61-48 decision to #23 UCF on Wednesday evening at the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Fla. The Golden Hurricane fell to 15-9 on the season and 5-8 in American Athletic Conference play, while the Knights moved to 22-3 overall and 14-1 in the league.

The American Athletic Conference tournament bracket will be announced later tonight.

Poindexter finished with a team-best 18 points, while Mayberry added 15 and Bittle scored 10. Rebecca Lescay pulled down a team-best six rebounds, while Delanie Crawford had five assists and Bittle had three steals.

UCF owned a 28-8 lead in points in the paint, a 20-3 advantage in points off turnovers and a 23-0 lead in points from the bench.

The Knights had a 41-31 advantage in rebounds, a 14-8 lead in steals and a 2-0 edge in blocks, while the Hurricane had a 15-12 lead in assists.

In the contest, Tulsa shot 34.7-percent from the field, 42.3-percent from behind the arc and 50-perent (3-of-6) from the free throw line, while UCF was 36.1-percent from the field, 33.3-percent from three-point range and 82.4-percent (14-of-17) from the line.

Poindexter scored seven of TU's first 11 points as she was 3-of-4 from the field and 1-of-1 from behind the arc to put Tulsa up 11-6 at the 5:29 mark. The two teams then battled to a 14-14 tied score at the end of the frame as both Poindexter and Mayberry each had seven points.

Bittle scored eight of TU's 10 points in the second quarter as the Golden Hurricane trailed the Knights, 25-24, at the end of the first half.

Tulsa shot 34.6-percent from the field and 45.5-percent from behind the arc compared to UCF's 28.9-percent from the field and 20-percent from three-point range in the first 20 minutes.

Tulsa and UCF combined for six points and six fouls, evenly on both accounts, in the first 5:06 off the clock in the third quarter as the Knights owned a 28-27 lead. The two teams exchanged baskets for a 30-30 tied score at the 3:44 mark of the frame, but then the Knights outscored the Golden Hurricane, 12-3, to close out the frame with a 42-33 advantage. Bittle picked up three fouls and Lescay had two in the quarter to both enter the final frame with four fouls.

After struggling to shoot the ball in the first half, the Knights were 55-percent from the field in the third quarter.

There were five tied scores and seven lead changes in the first 26:16 off the clock, but a jumper by Diamond Battles at 3:12 of the third quarter put the Knights ahead for the remainder of the contest.

The Knights inched ahead to a game-best 14-point lead, 55-41, with 4:00 minutes to play in the contest and earned the 13-point victory.

UCF was led by Destiny Thomas with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Brittney Smith with 12 points and 14 boards. Battles also contributed 14 points in the contest.