UCF women’s hoops tracker: SFA guard commits to Knights

(Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

It’s been an offseason of change for the UCF women’s basketball program.

Miami native Gabe Lazo takes over as the Knights’ new coach, replacing Sytia Messer, who was let go after four losing seasons.

Lazo faces a complete roster rebuild after more than a handful of players enter the transfer portal, including starters Leah Harmon (15.7 points per game), Khyala Ngodu (11 ppg.) and Summer Yancy (6.5 ppg.).

Here is the latest:

COMMITTED

G KEY ROSEBY

Vitals: 6-0

Resume: Roseby averaged 10.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 26.5 minutes in 70 games in two seasons at Stephen F. Austin. She shot 42.4% from the field, including 33.8% from 3-point range, earning her a spot on the All-Southland Conference first-team.

Role: The sophomore started all 35 games for the Ladyjacks, who earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Southland Tournament.

Outlook: Roseby becomes the second guard to commit to the Knights this offseason.

G MIKAYLA JOHNSON

Vitals: 6-1

Resume: Johnson averaged 13 points and 5.1 rebounds in 28 games for Pittsburgh last season. She transferred to Pittsburgh for the 2024-25 season, stepping into the starting small guard role and averaging 10.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 32 games with 27 starts.

Role: The junior started 27 of the team’s 31 games, averaging nearly 32 minutes per game for a Panthers team that finished 8-23, including a 1-17 mark in the ACC.

Outlook: Johnson fills an immediate need at guard, giving the Knights veteran leadership.

LEAVING

G LEAH HARMON

Vitals: 5-6

Resume: The sophomore led UCF in scoring with 15.7 points per game while appearing in just 20 of the Knights’ 30 games this season.

Role: Harmon was the team’s starting point guard before injuries limited her time on the court.

C KHYALA NGODU

Vitals: 6-3

Resume: The junior averaged 7.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in 84 games in three seasons with the Knights. She was seventh in the Big 12 in blocks per game (1.3) and 10th in overall blocks (35).

Role: Ngodu started 24 of the 27 games, averaging a career-high 10.8 points and 7 rebounds per game.

G SUMMER YANCY

Vitals: 5-11

Resume: Yancy spent two seasons at UCF, appearing in 50 games while averaging 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds.

Role: The sophomore started 16 games for the Knights this season, averaging 6.4 points. 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

C SAVANNAH SCOTT

Vitals: 6-4

Resume: Scott arrived at UCF following one season at Auburn, where she averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds for the Tigers.

Role: The sophomore appeared in every game this season, while starting in 5 games, averaging 5.0 points and 3.6 rebounds. She scored in double-digits in four games for the Knights.

G KAYANNA COX

Vitals: 5-10

Resume: Cox was another offseason addition for the Knights, arriving after playing one season at SMU, where she averaged 2.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in just 13 appearances.

Role: The sophomore appeared in 25 games, primarily as a backup, averaging a career-high 3.8 points and 1.2 rebounds.

G LOGAN REED

Vitals: 6-0

Resume: Reed transferred to UCF after redshirting her freshman season at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Role: The redshirt freshman had 8 blocks and 2 field goals and a steal in just 28 minutes of action in 6 games this season.

G AUDREONIA BENSON

Vitals: 5-7

Resume: The Alabama native transferred from Pensacola State College, where she spent her first three seasons before arriving at UCF.

Role: Benson averaged 3.1 points per game in just 104 minutes of action last season. She had a season-high 10 points against Florida A&M on Nov. 21.

G SAMARI BANKHEAD

Vitals: 6-0

Resume: Bankhead signed as part of UCF’s 2026 recruiting class from Los Angeles. She appeared in 30 games for the Knights, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds.

Role: Averaged at least 20 minutes in nine games last season as a primary backup.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com