Nov. 20, 2011
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By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - They say that rebounding and defense is all heart. On Sunday afternoon, heart took form in 5-foot-4 freshman reserve Bryeasha Blair.
The women's basketball team's shortest member grabbed 13 rebounds - in addition to nine points, five steals, four assists and just one turnover - in UCF's 72-43 victory over Mercer, defining the Knights' resolve in the game.
UCF (2-1) limited Mercer (0-4) to a 28.4 percent performance from the floor and out-rebounded the Bears, 50-39, marking the Knights' third-straight game of 50 rebounds or more.
"We take pride in our defense," senior guard Aisha Patrick said. "We're playing together as a team and our defense brings out our offense - points in transition and things like that."
Patrick posted her second-straight double-double and the 10th of her career with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore forward Erika Jones contributed a career-high 14 points off a 7-for-10 showing from the field while freshman Meghan Keough added 10 points.
Mercer opened the game with a three-pointer from Briana Williams for the Bears' only lead of the game. UCF responded with an 11-2 run and went on to lead by as much as 16 points, 26-10, in the first half after Jones chipped in back-to-back buckets in the paint.
The Bears scored three quick baskets to open the second half, but UCF responded with six unanswered points of its own and the Knights never looked back.
Coming up, UCF will host Hartford, Fordham and TCU at the Thanksgiving Classic on Friday-Saturday. UCF plays at 2:30 p.m. both days, facing Fordham on day one and Hartford on day two. Fans can purchase tickets by calling (407) UCF-1000 or visiting UCFAthletics.com.