Nov. 14, 2003
Contact: Erin Molina (210) 458-4930 Roadrunners fall short to No. 6 Texas Tech in first-ever Preseason WNIT appearance Box Score LUBBOCK, Texas – Despite a career-high 17 points from sophomore center Lacy Mingee, the Roadrunners were not able to overcome a high-powered Texas Tech offense as the No. 6 Lady Raiders defeated UTSA 76-48 in first round action of the preseason WNIT Friday night at the United Spirit Arena.
Although UTSA never led in the game, they trailed by just one at 21-20 with 4:16 left in the first half before Tech went on an 11-0 run to end the period for a 32-20 advantage.
The Roadrunners trailed by 13 at the beginning of the second frame, but Tech extended the lead with an 8-0 run that kept UTSA down for good.
Mingee posted a double-double with 10 boards and was 5-of-8 from the free throw line. Junior guard Kim Reed joined the ‘Runners offensive effort with 13 points including a 5-of-11 showing from the floor and a 3-for-4 performance from three-point land.
All-American Jia Perkins led the way for Texas Tech with 19 points and 13 rebounds as the Lady Raiders out-rebounded UTSA 51 to 34. Ranked no. 10 in the AP poll, Texas Tech had four in double-figures including freshman Alesha Roberston and seniors Casey Jackson and Jolee Ayers-Curry.
“We have to give them credit for being stronger and better down low than us,” said UTSA head coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair. “That’s why they’re one of the top 10 teams in the country. Lacy did a good job under the boards, but they were able to bring in fresh players when ours seemed to get a bit fatigued.”
“Of course you never like to lose like this, but it certainly tells us what we need to work on. It’s good to play a team like this with our goal being to win the Southland Conference Tournament and advance to the NCAA’s this would be exactly the type of team that we would face in the postseason,” added Blair.
UTSA (0-1) will take to the court again next weekend (Nov. 21-23) when they travel to Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, Friday at 7 p.m. followed by Texas Southern, Sunday at 7:05 p.m.
|
