Nov. 20, 2010
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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
HARRISONBURG, Va., (UCFAthletics.com) - Sophomore Gevenia Carter (Houston, Texas) had a career-high 16 points and senior Chelsie Wiley (Riviera Beach, Fla.) added a team-high 19, but the UCF women's basketball team couldn't hold a late second-half lead, falling to James Madison, 82-78, in overtime Saturday night in the Consolation Round of the Preseason WNIT.
Junior Aisha Patrick (Rockledge, Fla.) continued her rebounding dominance this season, matching her career high of 14. Patrick's nine defensive boards were more than any other UCF player had in the game. Senior D'Nay Daniels (Atlanta, Ga.) added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Knights (1-2).
The game, played at JMU's Convocation Center, featured eight ties and 11 lead changes before the Dukes (2-1) pulled away in overtime for the win.
The Knights led by five, 72-67, with under a minute to play in regulation, but a Kiara Francisco jumper followed by three Dawn Evans foul shots tied the game for JMU and sent the contest to the extra period.
Evans finished the contest with a game-high 34 points on 11-30 shooting from the field.
"We had opportunities and we missed a couple of free throws," head coach Joi Williams said. "Our post defense did not show up tonight and that left us a step slow getting to the ball. That is something that we have to go back and work on this week."
After the Dukes took an early lead in the first half, the Knights fought back in the final minutes with key defensive stops. JMU was held without a field goal and managed just four free throws in the final 7:08 of the first as UCF put together its first run of the game, capped with Wiley's three-pointer at the buzzer to pull the Knights to within one at the break, 30-29.
The second half started with both teams trading baskets. After Evans put the Dukes up two, 38-36, the Knights went on a 14-6 run over the next 3:32. Angelica Mealing's (Decatur, Ga.) no-look pass to Daniels in the paint for the layup with 12:51 on the clock and gave UCF the six-point lead, 50-44.
UCF would build its lead to as much as eight in the second half, before the Dukes mounted a comeback of their own. JMU capped its furious second-half run with the three Evans' free throws to tie the game after UCF was whistled for a foul on the three-point attempt. The Dukes would outscore the Knights, 10-6, in the overtime period to win the Consolation Round of the Preseason WNIT on their home floor, 82-79.
"I thought we competed very hard in the second half, "Williams said. "We had a few defensive letdowns, but I was pleased with the competitiveness we showed in the second."
For the game, the Knights outrebounded the Dukes, 51-38. JMU outshot UCF, however, connecting on 43.5 percent (30-69) of its shots to 35.3 percent (24-68) for the Knights.
The Knights return for their home opener at the UCF Arena Friday, Nov. 26 when they host Richmond in the UCF Thanksgiving Classic at 2:30 p.m. Michigan State and Western Kentucky will play in the first game of the day, set for a noon tip-off.
"We have to get back home and face Richmond and Western Kentucky, two very good teams in their own right," Williams added. "We're excited about our home opener and hopefully we will see a lot of fans at the UCF Arena this weekend."
Season and single-game tickets for the 2010-11 women's basketball team are on sale now. Season tickets start at just $39. Fans can purchase tickets online or by calling (407) UCF-1000.