UCF IMPROVES TO 2-0 WITH WIN OVER EASTERN ILLINOIS
UCF Press Release
November 24, 2002
KISSIMMEE – Sophomore Takira Allen (Tallahassee/Quincy Shanks HS) scored a
career-high 16 points as the UCF women’s basketball team earned a 77-47
victory over Eastern Illinois in the final day of the UCF Golden Knights
Classic at Kissimmee Civic Center.
With the score tied at 12 and 10:36 remaining before end of the first half,
Allen made a layup that jumpstarted UCF on a 10-4 run. The Golden Knights
(2-0) would take a 28-22 advantage to the locker room thanks in part to
Allen’s eight-point effort.
The Panthers (0-2) twice tried a comeback in the second half. They came within
one point of tying the game at 38 on a three-pointer by Rachel Karos, at 14:34
but UCF senior Jessica Scala (West Palm Beach/Palm Beach CC) made her own trey
to give the Golden Knights a four-point lead just 16 seconds later.
EIU’s second attempt came with 12:18 remaining on a lay-up by Lauren Dailey.
From there, UCF went on a 34-6 run to finish the game.
The Golden Knights were particularly impressive from three-point range,
hitting 56.3% of their shots, while Eastern Illinois only hit 15.4% from the
arc. UCF also outrebounded its opponent by a 50-23 margin.
Joining Allen in double figures on the afternoon was freshman Claudia Johnson
(Ripley, Miss./Ripley HS). Although she hobbled to and from the court on
crutches, Johnson scored 15 points, all from three-point range. Scala also had
11 points, while senior Erin Paige (West Palm Beach/The Benjamin School) had a
game-high 11 rebounds.
Brooke Gossett led the way for EIU with 11 points and Karos had 10.
In the first game of the afternoon, Rashawnah French and Courtney Lumpkin each
scored 19 points to help Monmouth University (1-1) to a 77-70 second half
victory over Sam Houston State (1-1).
The Hawks, who shot 38.1% from the field in the first half, capitalized on
their opportunities in the second shooting 63.2%. MU also took advantage of 31
fouls whistled on the Bearkats by shooting 83.3% from the line to finish the
game.
The Golden Knights travel to New Orleans on Nov. 25 for a 7 p.m. game at the
University of New Orleans.