Jan. 20, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - A season ago, freshmen playing significant minutes for the UCF women's basketball team was commonplace as the team led the nation with freshmen playing 91 percent of the squad's minutes. In 2008-09, things have changed with the team a year older, but freshmen are still making their mark on the Knights.
Freshman Aisha Patrick, a Rockledge, Fla., native, is not only a major contributor on a UCF team currently tied for first place in Conference USA, she has started 16 of 17 games and leads the team in minutes per game.
A year ago, Patrick was an Orlando area high school player suiting up in games for Rockledge High School. Now the 5-foot-9 guard is averaging 32.9 minutes, 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game despite the Knights playing one of the nation's toughest conferences.
While her numbers are impressive in many areas offensively, it is on the defensive end of the floor, where she routinely guards the opponents' best perimeter player, that Patrick has had the biggest impact on UCF. Head coach Joi Williams indicates Patrick's defense is what first caught her eye on the recruiting trail.
"Aisha has done a great job of being productive on both ends of the floor," said Williams. "We knew she had the potential to be a great defender when we recruited her and we have asked a lot of her as a freshman, especially on the defensive end. She has certainly stepped up to that challenge and has also made great contributions on the offensive end and on the boards."
Patrick has stepped up her game further in C-USA play, posting double figures in each of the team's games and averaging 13.5 points, seven rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest.
At Southern Miss on Sunday, she had her second double-double of the season with 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Despite playing guard, Patrick is in the top 20 in the conference in rebounding, including tied for third among freshmen.
She is also first among league freshmen in minutes per game (32.9), second in assists, third in free-throw percentage (75.0), third in assists, second in assist-to-turnover ratio and second in offensive rebounds (2.6).
FEELING IT
Sophomore Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, Fla.) has scored in double figures in each of the past nine games. During that stretch, she has averaged 17.2 points per game and knocked down 52.9 percent (27-of-51) of her three-pointers. The 5-foot-7 Wiley has hit at least two threes in eight-straight games.
BACK HOME AGAIN
UCF returns home Thursday to host Rice after concluding a three-game road trip spanning 19 days away from home. It is the second extended trip away from home this season for the Knights. Earlier this season, 26 days passed between UCF home games on Nov. 22 against Florida Atlantic and Dec. 18 against Miami.
HANDLING THE ROCK
UCF has done an impressive job handling the basketball in Conference USA play. In four games, the Knights have not had more than 15 turnovers in a game, including a season-low 11 miscues in the opener against Southern Miss. In C-USA action, the team leads the league in turnovers per game (13.0), turnover margin (+6.25) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1). With 14 assists and just three turnovers in league play, Patrick is first in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.67).
STREAK SNAPPED
With eight points at Southern Miss, sophomore Emma Cannon (Rochester, N.Y.) snapped a six-game streak of double-figure outings. She is still sixth in the league in scoring at 15.1 points per clip and third among players in conference games (18.5).
ON TAP
Thursday night's game against Rice is set for a 7 p.m. tip-off at UCF Arena. It is the first of two games this week for the Knights, who travel for a game at Houston Sunday at 3 p.m. Sunday's game will be televised locally in the Orlando area on Bright House Sports Network.
Season tickets for the UCF women's basketball program are currently on sale through the UCF ticket sales office. For more information about the arena's premium seating options, including club seats, group discounts, courtside tables and suites, contact the UCF ticket sales office at (407) UCF-1000 or visit the women's basketball ticket page at UCFAthletics.cstv.com/tickets/w-baskbl-tickets.html.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.