By Staff
ECU Sports Information
GREENVILLE — A 22-3 run in the second half propelled East Carolina to a 62-46 win over UCF Sunday afternoon in Minges Coliseum.
The Lady Pirates improve to 7-9 overall, and 2-1 in Conference USA action, while UCF falls to 5-11, 0-3 in league play.
After jumping out to the early 2-0 lead on a Cherie Mills basket, UCF took their first lead of the game, 3-2, on a Keunta Miles free throw. The teams traded leads over the next three possessions before the Golden Knights went on a 10-4 run over the next five minutes, taking the 15-10 lead with 11:18 to play in the half. A 4-0 run by the Lady Pirates pulled them to within two, 21-19, with 4:02 on the clock, but UCF answered, going on a 4-0 run of their own to increase their lead to six points with three minutes remaining in the opening half. ECU scored their final three points of the half from the charity stripe, making the halftime score 27-22 in favor of UCF.
Miles led all players with seven points at the break while Jasmine Young led ECU with six points. Impris Manning added five while Mills chipped in four. The Lady Pirates shot just 26.5 percent in the opening half, on 9-of-34 shooting. UCF shot 38.2 percent, connecting on 13-of-34 shots. ECU outrebounded the Golden Knights 25-21, but turned the ball over seven times to UCF’s five.
After a basket by Celeste Hudson to open the half, the Lady Pirates pulled to within two, 29-27 on a LaCoya Terry layup with 18:12 on the clock. A steal by Manning led to a fastbreak layup by Jessica Slack to tied the game at 31 all with 16:38 to play. Manning’s jumper just thirty seconds later gave the Lady Pirates the 33-31 lead, their first lead since four minutes into the game. After a forced UCF timeout, Slack grabbed the rebound off a UCF missed jumperand took the ball in for the basket, and the foul. Her free throw gave the Lady Pirates the 36-31 lead with 15:46 remaining in the game.
Francine Houston’s three pointer at the 15:05 mark ended a 9-0 ECU run and snapped a two minute UCF scoring drought, pulling the Golden Knights within two, 36-34. The Lady Pirates responded, going on a 12-0 run, extending their lead to 14, 48-34, with 9:14 to play.Terry’s jumper with 3:52 remaining in the game gave the Lady Pirates the 20 point, 60-40, lead. The Golden Knights did not give up, but did not have enough, as ECU cruised to the 62-46 victory.
Mills led all scorers with 14 points and five rebounds while Terry also finished in double figures, with 10. Slack and Manning each had nine points on the night. Gabriela Husarova pulled down a career-tying seven rebounds in the win. Houston led the Golden Knights with nine points.
East Carolina heads to Houston this week for the first road Conference USA game of the season. The Lady Pirates face the Houston Cougars Wednesday at 8 p.m.