No. 2/2 UConn bested SMU at the XL Center and UCF defeated Houston at Hofheinz Pavilion in the American Athletic Conference opener for each team.
No. 2/2 UConn 96, SMU 45
No. 2/2 UConn topped SMU, 96-45, in the conference opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at the XL Center.
Moriah Jefferson led five Huskies in double figures with a career-high 24 points. Jefferson, whose previous career high was 19-points, hit two 3-pointers and had 11 points during an early first half run by UConn. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scored 19 points for the Huskies while Kia Nurse added 13 and Morgan Tuck chipped in 12.
The Mustangs were paced by Alicia Froling, Keely Froling and Raven Short, who scored seven points apiece. Nine different SMU players recorded an assist in the loss. Gabrielle Wilkins led the Mustangs in rebounding with five boards.
UCF 64, Houston 50
For the second year in a row, UCF won their American Athletic Conference opener on the road at Houston. The Knights topped the Cougars 64-50 Saturday afternoon at Hofheinz Pavilion. UCF (5-7, 1-0 American) extended their win streak in the series over Houston (5-7, 0-1 American) to five straight with the victory.
Senior Yanique Gordon had 17 points and 12 rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench for UCF while freshman Fifi Ndour added 10 points and 12 rebounds. It was the first career double-double for Gordon and Ndour. Freshman Aliyah Gregory recorded her third-straight game of double digit scoring with 11 points.
Marche’ Amerson led the Cougars with 10 points, while Terran Alford added seven points and four rebounds off the bench. Down 35-30, UCF hit five straight shots and scored 13 unanswered points to take a 43-35 lead with 10:41 left. Gregory capped the run with a three-pointer, and the Knights never trailed again.