UB Women’s Basketball Wins Big over Mercyhurst

The UB Women’s Basketball Team defeated Mercyhurst 85–49 in an exhibition game at Alumni Arena today, led by double-doubles from sophomore guard Dyaisha Fair and junior forward Keowa Walters. The Bulls opened a 20–6 lead at the end of the first quarter, and the game was never close after that.

Fair, the nation’s fourth leading scorer as a freshman, picked right up where she left off, creating space for her jump shots and driving down the lane with the ball on a string, and wound up with 28 points, including 5-for-9 from three point land. She also had 11 rebounds (7 offensive, which led the team) and 5 steals.

Walters used her 6–2 size to dominate around the basket. She shot 9-for-13 and had 13 rebounds, 6 of them offensive. Junior forward Ade Adeyeye had a team high 15 rebounds (6 offensive).

Senior point guard Hanna Hall finished with 7 assists and 12 points, including 2-for-5 from the three point line. Perhaps the highlight reel play of the game was in the third quarter when Walters blocked a Mercyhurst shot, started a fast break to Hall, who was almost to the basket, but closely guarded. Hall saw Fair cutting to the other side of the basket, and hit Fair with a perfect pass for a layup.

Sophomore forward Loren Christie had 9 points, including 2 very long three pointers, and 7 rebounds.

All 9 active players saw at least 15 minutes on the court. Newcomers Sophia Öjhammar and Rama Keïta saw plenty of court time and generally played well, but didn’t record big numbers.

Notes:

• Junior center Zena Elias had 4 points, including her first ever free throw attempts in a UB uniform (and made both of them).
• Unavailable for the game: senior forward Summer Hemphill (still recovering from injury), sophomore center Elea Gaba (personal reasons) and freshman guard Cheyenne McEvans.
• Transfer Jazmine Young did not play, was not mentioned by the ESPN3 announcers, and I am wondering if she is not yet eligible to take the court after her transfer.
• The game was originally scheduled to be played against Gannon University, but someone on the team (player, coach or staff) tested positive for COVID-19 the day before the game, and the game was cancelled.
• Mercyhurst plays in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, which will not host competition this year because of COVID. Individual teams may still play, and so Mercyhurst was looking to add to their schedule, and when this game became available yesterday, they were booked for the game.
• I am contractually obligated to mention this: Mercyhurst has a player named Paige! Ms. Woodford was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.