March 1, 2005
Contact: Matt Schabert (210) 458-4930
UTSA wins key SLC contest over Stephen F. Austin, 56-44
Box Score
SAN ANTONIO - Freshman Richelle Parks poured in 23 points and UTSA forced 24 turnovers as the Roadrunners downed Stephen F. Austin, 56-44, in a key Southland Conference contest Tuesday night at the Convocation Center.
With the win, UTSA improves to 16-10 overall and 9-5 in the league. The Lady Jacks fall to 12-14 and 6-9.
Parks scored 23 points, five shy of her career high of 28, on 10-of-19 shooting and also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and blocked two shots. Junior Lacy Mingee added 10 points and seven boards and senior Holly Ziegler contributed seven points and two steals.
The Roadrunner defense was the story of the evening as SFA committed 24 turnovers, shot just 32.7 percent from the field and went the final 5:20 of the game without scoring.
UTSA built a 28-15 halftime lead thanks to a strong defensive effort that limited the Lady Jacks to 19.2 percent shooting from the field and forcing 14 turnovers. The Roadrunners stormed out of the gate to a 13-2 lead and never looked back, eventually increasing the lead to 14 points at 26-9 on a free throw by junior Katie Sandefur.
The Roadrunners held the double-digit lead for most of the second half until SFA used a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to five points at 49-44 with 5:20 remaining. That would be the last points the Lady Jacks would score as Mingee answered the run with a bucket and a free throw to extend the lead back to eight with 2:43 left. The Roadrunners then held SFA scoreless on its final six possessions of the game to run away with the 56-44 win.
Alex Bowman and Britany Vinson led SFA with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The Roadrunners close out the regular season on Friday, March 4, at Texas State in what could shape up to be a battle for hosting a first round conference tournament game next Monday.