HOUSTON (Interstat) — In a matchup of teams seeking to end difficult seasons on a positive note, the UCF Knights used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from the Houston Cougars for a 72-62 victory in a Big 12 Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Hofheinz Pavilion.

The Knights, who entered the contest having lost four straight and 10 of their last 11, improved to 11-18 overall. The Cougars, who have now lost three consecutive games, fell to 7-22.

The most important stretch of the game arrived immediately after halftime. UCF, which led 36-38 at the break despite committing 10 first-half turnovers, emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity. The Knights held Houston to just 11 points in the third quarter on 4-of-17 shooting from the floor, while forcing six Cougar turnovers. That defensive lockdown allowed UCF to transform a two-point edge into a commanding 56-49 lead entering the final period.

UCF’s star forward, Khyala Ngodu, was instrumental in both establishing the early lead and securing the win. The 6-foot-3 junior from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, scored a game-high 20 points, showcasing an efficient array of post moves and mid-range jumpers. She also anchored the Knights’ defense with four blocked shots and contributed a steal in 35 minutes of action. Her performance marked a return to form after being held to single digits in two of her previous three outings.

Ngodu received ample support from her backcourt. Guard Kristol Ayson of Tacoma, Washington, added 16 points, three assists and three steals, while fellow guard Jacorriah Bracey of Drew, Mississippi, chipped in 14 points and four assists. Forward Mahogany Chandler-Roberts provided a consistent interior presence with 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Houston was led by TK Pitts of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who scored 13 points. Amirah Abdur-Rahim of Marietta, Georgia, finished with 12 points and two blocks, and Kayla King of San Antonio came off the bench to provide 10 points. The Cougars’ offense struggled to find consistency, posting an offensive rating of 85.3 points per 100 possessions and connecting on just 4 of 16 attempts from three-point range.

The game began as a tight, back-and-forth affair. Houston’s Jade Jones hit a three-pointer late in the second quarter to give the Cougars a brief 34-33 advantage, but UCF closed the half with three straight points to reclaim the lead. The Knights then seized control for good with their decisive third-quarter run, which featured a key three-pointer from Ayson and a persistent attack in the paint that yielded 42 points for the game.

Houston made a final push in the fourth quarter, cutting UCF’s lead to 59-57 on a Shun’Teria Anumele jumper with 4:02 remaining. The Knights responded by clamping down defensively, holding the Cougars scoreless for over three minutes. UCF then sealed the game at the free-throw line, making 11 of 14 attempts in the final quarter and 16 of 20 for the game.

Despite being outscored 16-11 in points off turnovers, UCF won the battle of efficiency. The Knights shot 45.8% from the field compared to Houston’s 37.3%, and outrebounded the Cougars 42-35. The victory provided a respite for UCF in a season marked by narrow defeats, including five losses by single digits.

The announced attendance was 1,103. Both teams will conclude their regular seasons next weekend before heading to the Big 12 Conference tournament.