In face of all the problems that the Oregon women’s basketball team has seen this season, Brianne Meharry has been the bright spot.
The senior forward — surrounded by injuries, illnesses and tempers — has been one of the only Ducks who has consistently been on the court during this tumultuous season.
Her encouraging smile and successful attitude have lifted the Ducks in times of despair and given the team a shot at reaching an eighth-straight postseason tournament.
“It’s been crazy,” Meharry said of the season. “It seems like everyone’s had some big thing happen to them.”
Other than a minor ankle sprain that kept her out of two games in the preseason, “Bri” has played in every game and been one the Ducks’ main contributors. In a career-high 39 minutes Sunday, Meharry scored 15 points and grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds. In Pac-10 play, she is averaging 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
“Just to have that senior stability and leadership is a big part of a team’s success,” senior forward Lindsey Dion said. “I think it was frustrating for Bri to be the only one that was healthy and able to go 100 percent the whole time.”
Oregon’s sixth-place standing and now near-impossible goal of making the NCAA Tournament has taken its toll on the senior class, who expected nothing less than a third straight Pac-10 title this season.
“Because I am the most healthy of the seniors, I sometimes think maybe I should’ve done more,” Meharry said.
Her status as a starter is not always certain, but Meharry has adjusted to the role of sixth-man.
“I’ve always been the sixth-man, I always come off the bench,” she said. “And I’m always the one where if someone gets hurt or someone gets in trouble, I’m in. That’s just been my role. I’m the kind of the person who wants to be in the game in the end, when it really matters.”
“She’s willing to take whatever role we’ve given her, and she’s never complained,” head coach Jody Runge said. “She’s always done what’s best for the team.”
Perhaps Bri’s disappointment this season stems from the fact that’s she’s never known the meaning of failure. She won two Pac-10 championships as a Duck, and in four years at Oregon City High School in Gladstone, her team lost just two games. Her four state championships and three USA Today national titles helped her become an All-American during her senior year.

“She has a winner’s mentality,” Dion said of her freshman roommate. “I don’t think she’d have it any other way; she wouldn’t let it be any other way. She’s a person that thrives off success.”
Of her four years at Oregon, Meharry said living with Dion at the University Inn was one of the most memorable experiences.
“Definitely rooming with Lindsey — I’ll never forget that because our freshman year was crazy,” Meharry said. “We hated each other.”
Both Meharry and Dion said living with another person for the first time was hectic, especially because Dion was “ultra clean,” Meharry said, while Bri was “the whole other extreme,” Dion said.
“It’s a funny story because we’re such good friends now,” Meharry said.
Along with a couple of championship trophies, Meharry has solidified her place in the Oregon record book. She recently became just the 15th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
“I just try to play hard every minute and hope that everyone else will do the same,” she said.
Senior Jenny Mowe, known for her playful demeanor with teammates, said she can’t help but have a good time with Meharry.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing with Bri,” Mowe said. “She’s always turning around to me; we’ll be battling some team, and she’ll just turn around and say, ‘Let’s just have fun, Jenny, let’s just have fun.’ She’s the kind of player who does everything with a smile. She fouls with a smile. She always says stuff like, ‘Jesus!’ And she’s got a big grin on her face.”
Philosophically, Meharry said she just wants to take advantage of the time she has as a basketball player, which may be extended with a shot at the WNBA, but before shooting for the big league, Bri will get married this summer.
“Life’s too short and college is too short to be unhappy when you’re out on the court,” Meharry said. “So no matter what happens, I’m always telling Jenny ‘Hey, have fun.’ Especially this year, our last year in college and our last year with the fans.”
The fans may get one of their last chances to see Bri smile at 7 p.m. tonight in McArthur Court against Arizona State, when the Ducks will decide their postseason fate.