Nov. 16, 2005
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930
UTSA set for season-opening Central Florida Golden Knights Classic
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SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The University of Texas at San Antonio women’s basketball team opens the 2005-06 regular season on Nov. 18 at the Central Florida Golden Knights Classic against last season’s Women’s National Invitational Tournament runner-up West Virginia at 2:30 p.m. (CST) in Orlando, Fla.
The Mountaineers are coming off a 20-win season in 2004-05 (21-13). Returning for West Virginia is junior guard Meg Bulger who led the team in scoring with 19.5 points per game.
The Runners will then play Florida A&M on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. The Rattlers are coming off a 14-16 mark in 2004-05 and a 9-9 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play.
The Roadrunners collected two wins in exhibition play against the Houston Jaguars (77-61) on Nov. 7, and against the Dallas Diesel (85-78) on Nov. 13.
Freshman forward Destiny Brown averaged 24.0 points per contest and led the Runners in scoring both games with 16 points against the Jaguars and 32 points against the Diesel.
UTSA returns to San Antonio to host Tulsa in their season home opener on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
Central Florida Golden Knights Classic
UCF Arena • Orlando, Fla.
UTSA Roadrunners (0-0)
vs.
West Virginia Mountaineers (0-0)
Friday, Nov. 18 • 2:30 p.m. (CST)
UTSA Roadrunners (0-0)
vs.
Florida A&M Rattlers (0-0)
Saturday, Nov. 19 • 3 p.m. (CST)
Last Outing
Freshman forward Destiny Brown’s 32 point outing against the Dallas Diesel helped lead UTSA to a 85-77 victory on Nov. 13, at the Convocation Center…Brown exploded in the second half scoring 21 points…Joining Brown in double-digit scoring was junior transfer Vivian Ewalefo with 20 points and sophomore guard Terrie Davis with 10 points…Freshman guard Monica Gibbs had game-highs with nine rebounds and five assists…After a slow shooting performance in the first half (39 percent), the Roadrunners caught fire in the second half shooting 56 percent from the field…The Runners connected on 28-out-of-38 free throws, including hitting 21-out-of-27 in the second half.
Setting The Scene
UTSA opens its 2005-06 season against Big East foe and Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) runner-up West Virginia at the Central Florida Tournament in Orlando. Fla., tip off set for 2:30 p.m.
Scouting the Mountaineers and Rattlers
West Virginia is coming off a 20 win season (21-13) and a trip to the WNIT championship game, before falling to Southwest Missouri State (78-70). The Mountaineers return its leading scorer, junior guard Meg Bulger, sister of current St. Louis Rams quaterback Marc Bulger, who averaged 19.5 points per game.
UTSA’s second opponent will be Florida A&M. The Rattlers finished the 2004-05 season with a 14-16 mark and a 9-9 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). FAMU returns eight letter winners. Florida A&M is coming off a 76-64 loss to Florida Gulf Coast in exhibition play.
A Look At The Roadrunners
UTSA wrapped up exhibition play last Sunday with a 85-78 win over the Dallas Diesel. The Runners also defeated the Houston Jaguars 77-61 on Nov. 7.
Looking Back At Last Season
The Roadrunners finished 2004-05 with a 16-12 mark and a 10-6 in Southland Conference (SLC) play, good for fifth place.
Runners In Tournament Play
UTSA played in three tournaments last year. The Roadrunners went 4-2 in those three tournaments.
Veteran Leadership
Returning for their final season at UTSA are senior forwards Lacy Mingee and Katie Sandefur and senior guard Nicole Dunson.
Mingee was SLC honorable mention last season. She averaged 8.8 points per game and better her average to 10.8 in SLC play. The Peidmont, Okla. native earned 2005-06 Preseason second team all-conference.
Sandefur. a 6-0 forward, averaged 6.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last year for the Runners. Sandefur ranked second the team in block shots with 22 and with 56 assists.
Dunson was 2004-05 SLC Student Athlete of the Year for basketball and SLC honorable mention. She appeared in 25 games last year for UTSA, while averaging 8.5 points per game. She led the Runners in three-point field goal percentage shooting 39 percent.
Destiny Brought Brown To UTSA
Brown, a 6-0 forward, averaged 24.0 points per game in the two exhibition games this past week. She scored 16 points against the Houston Jaguars on Nov. 7. The Stillwater High School product dropped 32 points in 30 minutes of action against the Dallas Diesel on Nov. 13.
Floor General
This year’s offense will be run by freshman point guard Monica Gibbs. In her debut against the Houston Jaguars, Gibbs led the Roadrunners with eight assists on Nov. 7. The Stillwater, Okla. native dished out a game high five assists against the Dallas Diesel on Nov. 13.
High Expectations In The SLC
UTSA was picked to finish second in the SLC coaches and SID’s polls, behind Texas-Arlington.
First Timers
This season UTSA will play four teams for the first time in school history. Beginning with West Virginia and Florida A&M in the Central Florida Tournament. Davidson on Dec. 2 at the Rice Tournament. Play host to Buffalo in the Wells Fargo New Year’s Classic on Dec. 30.
Looking For Number 200
Head Coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair is 12 wins shy of reaching 200 career wins.
Young Birds
Coach Rippetoe-Blair welcomes eight newcomers to this year’s team, including seven freshmen.
Who’s Next For The Roadrunners
UTSA will host Tulsa on Nov. 22 at the Convocation Center for its season home opener, schedule tip set for 7 p.m.