Nov. 26, 2011
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF played without its do-everything point guard and a lost a tournament game on Saturday at The Venue, but along the way the Knights might have learned a very valuable lesson.
Forced to play without standout senior Aisha Patrick because of a death in the family, UCF struggled through a lull at the start of the second half and turned the ball over 22 times in a 55-46 loss to Hartford on Saturday in the UCF Thanksgiving Classic.
UCF head coach Joi Williams hopes that the game will serve as a lesson to her team: When a player the caliber of Patrick is out, several younger players must step up and contribute more.
"I'm not giving excuses, but we didn't have much opportunity to get prepared to not have (Patrick)," Williams said. "Anything could happen with (Patrick). She could get injured or be in foul trouble, so we have to learn to play without her and have others step up and assume different roles."
Patrick averaged 17 points, nine rebounds and 3.75 steals in the first four games. UCF learned Friday night that it would be without its starting point guard and had only a morning shootaround practice to prepare for a game without her.
"She's extremely important. You're talking about a senior who has started for four years," Williams said. "Can we win without her? Absolutely, but people have to step up and really play harder and give more effort."
UCF (2-3) was within two points of the lead at halftime, but a 7-minute, 21-second drought to start the second half proved to be its downfall. During that time, UCF missed seven straight shots and turned the ball over five times as Harford (5-1) ripped off 15 straight points.
UCF went on its own 17-4 run late in the second half and twice got within five points of the lead. But the Knights could get no closer, despite the strong efforts from guard Gevenia Carter (16 points, four assists and four steals) and center Erika Jones (12 points and 10 rebounds).
"We just didn't come out with fire after halftime and come out like we should have," said Carter, who had 13 second-half points. "We knew that and we made sure to pick it up to try and get back in the game."
UCF missed all 10 of its attempts beyond the 3-point line. Sisters Kayli Keough (six points) and Meghan Keough combined for 11 points for a Knights' team that will welcome back Patrick next week.
"Whether Pat is here or not, we all have to do a better job of stepping up," said Jones, arguably UCF's most improved player so far in the season. "It's a team effort. Pat is our leader on the floor, but everybody that we put out there has to play like a leader."
Hartford, which has won the last five America East championships, shot 43.1 percent and placed three players in double-figures in scoring.
The game pitted a couple of key cogs of the Team USA Under-19 squad that won a gold medal in Chile. Harford's Jennifer Rizzotti was the head coach on that team, while Williams served as an assistant coach. The two chatted before the game and are close friends.
UCF plays next at home on Wednesday against Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m. The Knights are in the midst of a nine-game homestand. The homestand wraps up on Dec. 18 with a premier game against Virginia Teach and precedes a Dec. 20 game at Notre Dame. The Knights then host Florida State on Dec. 30 before beginning Conference USA play in early January.
John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFAthletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.