PORTAGE | It was the Bryonna Davis show in the first half at Portage on Friday night.

The Merrillville senior guard scored 26 points in her team's 54-39 win over the Indians, making sure to kill any semblance of a run that Portage (4-1, 1-1 Duneland Athletic Conference) could muster.

When Merrillville starting forward Melanee Stubbs went down with a knee injury in the first quarter, Davis quickly knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers.

When Portage guard Brianne Wishcman hits back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Indians to within 10, Davis scored 10 straight points, including another pair of treys, to spark a 15-0 run. Suddenly, the Pirates were up 38-15.

That first-half barrage, during which Davis hit four of her five 3-pointers and scored 20 of her 26 points, proved to be all Merrillville would need.

The victory kept the Times No. 8 Pirates undefeated at 5-0, 2-0 in the DAC.

Merrillville coach Amy Govert said the performance by Davis was key, especially after Stubbs went down.

"(Davis) is a senior; she's been on varsity for four years," Govert said. "She knew we needed her. She really stepped up to the challenge."

Sophomore guard Raveen Murray was also big for the Pirates, filling the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, five steals, four assists and 3 blocks.

In the second half, Portage settled down and held Merrillville to just 16 points.

"In the second half, defensively to hold a team like that to 16 points was a great team effort," Portage coach Chris Seibert said. "Unfortunately, we have to do that for four quarters, not two quarters."

GIRLS BASKETBALL

No. 8 Merrillville 54, Portage 39

Merrillville's Bryonna Davis hit five 3-pointers on her way to 26 points.