The UCF women’s basketball team is set to complete its five-game homestand with a matchup against South Carolina State at Addition Financial Arena on Monday, November 24. The game will start at 6 p.m., with Scott Adams and BJ Taylor providing commentary.
UCF, holding a 3-1 record, aims for its third consecutive win before traveling to San Juan for the Discover Puerto Rico Classic later in the week. The Knights have shown strong performance in their recent games, particularly in shooting efficiency and bench contributions.
In their last outing, UCF defeated Florida A&M 76-59, recording a field goal percentage of 55.1%. This is the highest under head coach Sytia Messer and ranks as the eleventh-best in program history. The previous best shooting performance during Messer’s tenure was against Morgan State in December 2023 with a 54.8% field goal rate.
Coach Messer expressed her confidence in the team’s depth before the season began. Through four games, this has been reflected as UCF ranks third in the Big 12 Conference and forty-sixth nationally with an average of thirty points per game from bench players. In the victory over Florida A&M, bench players contributed forty-one points out of seventy-six total.
Sophomore guard Leah Harmon, a transfer from Miami, has led UCF’s scoring efforts with sixty-one points across four games. Her point total is second among transfers this decade at UCF and fourth overall for any Knight through two games since 2015. Harmon currently averages fifteen point three points per game, placing her fifteenth in the Big 12.
UCF has maintained dominance over other Florida teams by winning seven straight games against in-state opponents and starting this season with a perfect record against Bethune-Cookman, FIU, and Florida A&M. Under Coach Messer’s leadership, the Knights hold a seven-to-three record against state rivals since December 2023.
In their annual kids day game versus FIU, UCF scored seventy-nine points—its highest mark so far this season—and set a new program record for free throw percentage (90%) when making at least twenty attempts.
Coach Sytia Messer improved her record to four wins without loss in season openers after leading UCF to a thirty-nine-point victory over Bethune-Cookman earlier this month. Since Messer took charge, all four opening contests have resulted in decisive wins for UCF.
Tickets for single games and full seasons are available online or by contacting the ticket office directly via phone.
“UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida’s preeminent athletic program, representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as ‘Orlando’s Hometown Team’. To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com,” according to information provided by UCF Athletics.
