Nov. 28, 2005
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930
UTSA travels to Corpus Christi for non-conference action
SAN ANTONIO - UTSA is coming off two wins over the weekend to improve to a 4-1 mark, the second best start in school history. The Roadrunners collected victories over Arkansas-Little Rock (52-44) on Nov. 25 and New Mexico State (61-38) on Nov. 26 at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.
UTSA Roadrunners (4-1)
vs.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (0-4)
Tuesday, Nov. 29 - 7 p.m.
American Bank Center (8,000) - Corpus Christi, Texas
Last Outing
Senior center Lacy Mingee’s season-high 21 points paced UTSA to a 61-38 win over New Mexico State on Nov. 26 at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic…Mingee and senior forward Katie Sandefur were selected to the UTSA Thanksgiving All-Classic team…Freshman forward Destiny Brown added career-high of 18 points and eight rebounds…Sandefur and freshmen guards Monica Gibbs and Farren Fox each handed out three assists apiece…Gibbs also chipped in with seven points…UTSA’s defense held New Mexico State to a season-low 18 percent shooting in the first half and to 24 percent shooting for the game…The Roadrunners out rebounded the Aggies 44-36 and collected a season-high 13 steals.
Setting The Scene
UTSA went 2-0 this weekend as they hosted the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 25-26. The Roadrunners collected wins over Arkansas-Little Rock (52-44) on Nov. 25 and New Mexico State (61-38) on Nov. 26. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is coming off two losses at the Miami Thanksgiving Classic. The Islanders lost to No. 3 LSU 74-52 and Nebraska 76-64 over the weekend. TAMU-CC is 3-0 against UTSA. Last season the Islanders defeated the Runners 66-44 on Nov. 19 at the Convocation Center.
Scouting The Islanders
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is coming off a 20-win season and a trip to the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) last season. Head Coach Jodi Kest begins her fourth season at TAMU-CC with an 57-28 mark at A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders return four starters off last year’s squad, including leading scorer senior forward Terra Andrews who averaged 15.5 points per game.
Home Cooking For The Bird’s
UTSA enjoyed a successful weekend with two wins and shot over 40 percent from floor, while holding their opponents to 26 percent. The Roadrunners also out rebounded their counterparts 81-72 and averaged 12.0 steals per game.
All-Classic Team
Mingee and Sandefur were selected to the UTSA Thanksgiving All-Classic team over the weekend. The two combined for 23.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in their two wins against Arkansas-Little Rock and New Mexico State.
Mingee’s Weekend Show
Mingee put on a show against the Aggies on Nov 26., as she led the team in scoring with a season-high 21 points on 9-of-13 in 21 minutes of action. She also collected six rebounds and four steals. Mingee was also a presence in the paint for UTSA as show altered shot attempts against UALR and NMST.
Destiny Shines Against The Aggies
Freshman forward Destiny Brown set career-highs with 18 points and eight rebounds, five of which came on the offensive side, against New Mexico State. The Stillwater, Okla., native was 6-of-10 shooting from the floor.
Fast Start For UTSA
UTSA is off to its second best start in school history at 4-1. During the 1996-97 season, former UTSA coach Terry Gray began the season winning his first six games.
Free Throws Shooting Woes
UTSA is shooting 58 percent from the charity stripe this season. Over the weekend, the Roadrunners were 21-of-36 for 58 percent from the free throw line. Brown, Sandefur and Ewalefo are the only players on the team shooting over 70 percent from the line.
Young Ones Playing Like Veterans
Gibbs, Fox, and Brown have stepped up their game early in the season. The three have combined for nearly half the offense, averaging 26.7 points per game.
Defensive Stand Over The Weekend
UTSA’s defense was nothing but perfect against Arkansas-Little Rock and New Mexico State. The Trojans and Aggies combined for 29-of-109 shooting from the floor for 26 percent. The Roadrunners was even more stringy, allowing 21 percent on 12-of-58 shooting in the first half of both contests.
Fox’s Coming Out Party
Freshman guard Farren Fox scored a career-high nine points against Tulsa. Fox connected on three 3-pointers and hauled in two rebounds.
Veteran Leadership
The three seniors (Nicole Dunson, Lacy Mingee and Katie Sandefur) on Coach Rippetoe-Blair’s squad were a huge in the Golden Knights Tourney, combining for 28.5 points per game.
Strong Finisher Against Mountaineers
Davis’ 17 points against West Virginia helped UTSA upset the Mountaineers in Friday’s 57-54 win at the UCF tournament. The Houston, Texas native scored 12 of her 17 points in the second half, including nine points during UTSA’s 16-3 run to tie the game with 7:34 left in the game.
Ewalefo Dominates The Rattlers
Vivian Ewalefo’s 22 points and nine rebounds were enough to lift UTSA over Florida A&M, 71-61 win at the Central Florida Tournament on Nov. 19. The junior transfer from Barton County Community College connected on 10-of-15 from the field (67 percent).
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 eight wins shy of reaching 200 career wins.
High Expectations In The SLC
UTSA was picked to finish second in the SLC coaches and SID’s polls, behind Texas-Arlington.
Who’s Next For The Roadrunners
UTSA travels to Houston, Texas as they will participant in the Rice tournament. The Roadrunners square off against Louisiana Tech on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.