Nov. 16, 2012
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
FORT WORTH, Texas (UCFAthletics.com) -The UCF women's basketball team was unable to overcome a strong second half by TCU in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum Friday night as it dropped a close non-conference tilt, 61-55.
This was the first contest on either school's home court, with the first two meetings happening at neutral sites. The last time these two teams met was in 1994 in Auburn, Ala.
Playing in her home state of Texas, senior guard Gevenia Carter, and fellow senior Kayli Keough, stepped up with big-time efforts for the Knights (1-3). The duo would finish the contest with 31 combined points, as Carter led the team with 18. Entering the matchup, both seniors had combined for just 33 points on the year.
Trailing 12-5 in the first half, the Knights went on an 11-0 run and held as much as a 12-point lead before halftime. Meghan Keough sparked the rally with a three-pointer off the bench while Erika Jones, Carter and K. Keough all hit field goals to extend the run. The offensive outburst was combined with strong defense that limited the Horned Frogs (1-1) to just 20% shooting from the floor in the first half.
In the second half, the going would get tougher for the Knights after TCU opened up the stanza with a 16-4 run to take a 39-33 lead.
Carter brought UCF within three at the 4:53 mark with a triple from the corner, and the Knights would stay just three points behind the Horned Frogs until Zahna Medley drained a 3-pointer with 2:31 left. TCU would go on to make the majority of its free throws to ice the contest as it held a 35-17 advantage in free-throw attempts.
Kayli Keough finished with 13, while sister, Meghan, scored seven off the bench. Sara Djassi also chipped in 10 points, two rebounds and an assist.
The Knights will get their passports handy as they head to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for the Hardwood Tournament of Hope. Starting Tuesday, UCF takes on No. 8 Louisville, followed by a matchup with either Gonzaga or Missouri State on Wednesday and a Thanksgiving-Day showdown that is to be determined.