OVIEDO, Fla. (Interstat) — Summer Yancy scored a game-high 25 points and the UCF Knights overcame a slow start and a late Colorado rally to defeat the Buffaloes 74-68 in a Big 12 women’s basketball game Sunday at CFE Arena.

The Knights, who trailed by as many as nine points in the first quarter, used a dominant second period to seize control and then held off multiple Colorado charges in the final minutes to secure the victory before a crowd of 1,156.

The most important part of the game was UCF’s second-quarter surge, which completely flipped the contest’s momentum. After a sluggish opening period that saw Colorado build a 19-14 lead behind efficient interior play, the Knights erupted for 25 points in the second quarter. Their defense simultaneously stifled the Buffaloes, holding them to just 10 points on a series of forced turnovers and contested shots. That 25-10 frame turned a five-point deficit into a 39-29 halftime advantage for the home team.

Yancy, a 5-foot-11 guard from Kansas City, Missouri, was the catalyst for the Knights. She scored 11 of her points during that pivotal second-quarter run, including a pair of three-pointers. Beyond her scoring, she added six rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes, providing the steadying presence UCF needed after a recent stretch of inconsistent performances.

Colorado, which entered the game as a heavy favorite according to predictive metrics, refused to fade. The Buffaloes opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run to tie the game at 41, fueled by Jade Masogayo and Zyanna Walker. UCF responded by tightening its defense again, closing the quarter on a 10-2 spurt to reclaim a 51-50 lead entering the final period.

The Knights built their lead back to nine points midway through the fourth quarter, but Colorado mounted one last push. A three-pointer by Tabitha Betson with 17 seconds remaining cut the UCF lead to 72-68. After Summer Yancy secured the win with a layup on the ensuing inbound play, a final Colorado three-point attempt missed, sealing the outcome.

Masogayo, a 6-3 forward from Fort Worth, Texas, led Colorado with a versatile line of 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a block. Walker, a 5-11 guard from Wichita, Kansas, finished with 13 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Desiree Wooten added 15 points for the Buffaloes, while Betson contributed 13 points and seven rebounds.

For UCF, Mahogany Chandler-Roberts of Portland, Oregon, provided 10 points and six rebounds. Khyala Ngodu of Fort Lauderdale had seven points, four rebounds and two assists, and her interior defense with three blocks was pivotal. Savannah Scott of Conway, Arkansas, added eight points and five rebounds off the bench.

Colorado held significant advantages in points in the paint, 36-22, but was undone by 21 points off turnovers conceded to UCF. The Knights also managed to contain a Buffaloes offense that had been averaging over 68 points per game in conference play.

The loss drops Colorado to 12-7 overall. The Buffaloes will look to rebound when they host Oklahoma State on Jan. 25.

UCF improved to 10-8 with the win, gaining a key conference victory as it prepares for a challenging road game at Baylor on Wednesday.

The game was part of the Big 12 conference schedule.