No. 22/18 USF 83, SMU 56
Freshman Kitija Laksa poured in a career-high 38 points in an 83-56 win over SMU on Thursday evening. The 38-point performance ranks second in American Athletic Conference history, trailing Zykira Lewis who registered 41 points last season. Laksa connected on 15-of-24 field goal attempts, which ties the conference single game field goal record, and went 8-for-12 from long range. Laura Ferreira complimented Laksa with 12 points and as many rebounds while Laia Flores distributed eight assists. McKenzie Adams scored 20 points for the Mustangs while Gabrielle Wilkins registered a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.  

 

East Carolina 71, UCF 56
Jada Payne powered East Carolina to its first league win of the season as the Pirates defeated UCF, 71-56, on Thursday night at the CFE Arena. Payne produced a game-high 27 points, connected on 10-of-11 from the free throw line and grabbed 14 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the year. Marina Laramie and I’Tiana Taylor each had 12 points while DeVaughn Gray chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds. Aliyah Gregory led the Knights with 14 points to go with a career-high nine rebounds while Makenzie Reasor recorded eight points and 10 rebounds.  
 
Memphis 64, Cincinnati 47
Memphis claimed its third consecutive league win with a 64-47 victory at Cincinnati on Thursday. The Tigers shot 48.4-percent from the field and forced 17 turnovers. Asianna Fuqua-Bey led the way with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor. Ariel Hearn handed out nine assists and grabbed 11 rebounds while Cheyenne Creighton added 13 points and five rebounds. Ana Owens paced the Bearcat with 19 points and seven rebounds while Jasmine Whitfield scored nine points.    
 
Up Next
Friday, January 8
Tulsa at Temple ^MH *• 5 p.m. 
No. 1 UConn at Houston (ESPN2) * • 9 p.m. 
 
[MH] McGonigle Hall
 [*] Conference game
All Times Eastern