OVIEDO, Fla. (Interstat) — Cameron Thomas poured in a game-high 35 points and the Stetson Hatters executed down the stretch to secure a 70-67 upset victory over the UCF Knights in a non-conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at a sparse CFE Arena.

In a contest defined by grinding defense and inefficient offense, the Hatters leaned on their star guard from Hazel Crest, Illinois, to snap a two-game skid in the series and hand the Knights a frustrating home loss. Stetson improved to 6-2 on the season, while UCF fell to 6-3. The outcome defied statistical expectations, as pregame analytics gave the Knights an 87 percent probability to win.

The Hatters set the tone early, leveraging a quick 8-2 run to build a lead they would never fully relinquish. Thomas was electric from the opening tip, scoring 13 of her points in the first quarter. Her back-to-back three-pointers midway through the period stretched the lead to nine, forcing an early UCF timeout. The Knights, led by Leah Harmon’s seven first-quarter points, clawed back to trail by just one, 18-17, after ten minutes.

UCF’s offense found a brief rhythm in the second quarter, taking its first and only lead of the game at 23-22 on a Samari Bankhead three-pointer. The Knights’ advantage was short-lived, as Thomas answered immediately with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to reclaim the lead for Stetson. The teams traded baskets in a physical, disjointed frame that saw more combined turnovers (11) than assists (5). A late layup by Stetson’s Aleah Sorrentino sent the Hatters into halftime with a narrow 29-25 advantage.

The third quarter saw both offenses briefly warm up. UCF’s Harmon, who finished with 19 points, hit a pair of three-pointers to keep the Knights within striking distance. Stetson’s Mary McMillan of Apopka, Florida, provided crucial support for Thomas, scoring six in the period. Every time UCF threatened to draw even, the Hatters had a response, often from Thomas attacking the rim. Her layup with 47 seconds left in the third gave Stetson a 57-55 lead heading into the final period, setting the stage for a tense finish.

The fourth quarter was a story of missed opportunities for the home team. UCF’s offense stagnated, managing only 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting in the final ten minutes. The Knights dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 15 for the game compared to Stetson’s six, but frequently failed to convert second-chance points. Meanwhile, Stetson, while not prolific, made the plays it needed. With the score tied at 61 and just over four minutes remaining, Promise Keshi of Rubano, Italy, scored on a driving layup to put the Hatters ahead for good.

UCF had chances in the final minute. Trailing by three, they forced a miss but turned the ball over on the ensuing possession. After Stetson’s Thomas split a pair of free throws to make it a four-point game, UCF’ Jasmynne Gibson scored on a layup with one second left to cut the deficit to 70-67. The Knights, out of timeouts, could not foul quickly enough as time expired.

Beyond Thomas’s 35-point explosion, which included three three-pointers, Stetson received a vital 15-point contribution from McMillan. Keshi added six points and a team-high nine rebounds. The Hatters won despite being outshot from the field — 43.9% to 40.9% — and being nearly doubled up on the offensive boards. They compensated by forcing 11 UCF turnovers, committing only eight themselves, and scoring 15 points off those miscues. Stetson also shot better from distance, hitting 7 of 20 from three-point range compared to UCF’s 5 of 14.

For UCF, Harmon’s 19 points led the way, but she was hampered by six turnovers. Gibson, also from Apopka, Florida, provided a spark off the bench with 12 points. Khyala Ngodu of Fort Lauderdale added 10 points, three assists and two blocks, while Summer Yancy of Kansas City, Missouri, chipped in nine points and five assists. The Knights’ size inside, led by Ngodu and Savannah Scott, generated a 36-32 advantage in points in the paint, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the team’s late-game execution issues.

The announced attendance was 1,021. Stetson will look to build on the road victory when they return home to face William & Mary on Dec. 19. UCF aims to rebound quickly, hosting Delaware State on Sunday.