AAC Preview: Get to Know the Players and Coaches Who Will Lead the League This Season

UCF Looking to Build on Great Year Last Year

After a 21-win season that included the program’s first WNIT and American Conference Tournament victories, UCF Head Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (Coach Abe) knows expectations will be much higher for her team this season.

“We aren’t going to surprise anyone anymore,” she says.  “We’re still a young team and a big challenge will be to keep the players focused on how hard it is to repeat that [success] and maybe win some more.”

The Knights return 2016-17 AAC First Team Selection Aliyah Gregory who finished sixth in the league in scoring last season and is a preseason first-team selection this year. “She can play at the next level for sure,” Coach Abe said.

Redshirt Senior Zakiya Saunders is also expected to play a major role for the team. “She is going to be huge for us in terms of leadership, scoring and all of it.  She is going to be like me on the floor.”

Coach Abe at AAC Media Day on the challenge of building on top of her team’s success last year:

Players to Watch

Aliyah Gregory — Guard, Senior, 2016-17 AAC First Team, 2017-18 Preseason All-Conference First Team, Reached double figures in 26 of her 31 games, with eight 20+ point outings

Zakiya Saunders — Guard, RS Senior, Played for Coach Abe at Albany, Sat out last year due to transfer rules

Masseny Kaba — Forward, Freshman, 2017 Boston Globe Player of the Year “Looks like a junior already.  She could hopefully be one of the top freshmen in the league.”

@COACH_ABE is looking forward to Year 2 with @UCF_WBB. #AmericanTipOff

First Regular Season Game: November 10 versus Mercer