Dec. 29, 2005
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930
Roadrunners ready for Wells Fargo/UTSA New Year's Classic
Tournament Notes | Live Audio (UTSA games only) | Tournament Central
SAN ANTONIO - UTSA returns to action after a six-day layoff with the Wells Fargo/UTSA New Year’s Classic this weekend. The Roadrunners will face Buffalo on Friday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m., and Colorado State on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Convocation Center.
Wells Fargo/UTSA New Year's Classic
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 30-31 • Convocation Center • San Antonio
Tournament Schedule
Friday, Dec. 30
5 p.m. - Tulsa vs. Colorado State
7 p.m. - UTSA vs. Buffalo
Saturday, Dec.31
1 p.m. - Buffalo vs. Tulsa
3 p.m. - UTSA vs. Colorado State
Last Outing:
UTSA went toe-to-toe with No. 10 Arizona State, but with 6:06 left in the game the Sun Devils went on a 18-9 run to close out the game en route to a 78-64 win on Dec. 19, at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz…Junior forward Emily Westerberg led three ASU players in double-digits with 17 points and a team-high 10 rebounds…Leading UTSA in scoring was junior transfer Vivian Ewalefo with her first career double-double of 16 points and 10 boards…Senior guard Nicole Dunson chipped in with 10 points, while senior center Lacy Mingee added nine points…The Sun Devils held a 40-27 rebounding advantage, including a 18-5 edge in offensive rebounding.
Scouting Report On The Bulls
Buffalo is sporting a 4-5 record after starting the season 0-3. The Bulls have won their last 4-of-6 games, including a four game winning streak. UB four-game winning streak was snapped with a 82-80 overtime loss to Oakland back on Dec. 20. UB fell to Bucknell, 74-63 on Dec. 28 in Alumni Arena. Buffalo enters this weekend tourney with a two-game losing streak. Senior guard Brooke Meunier ranks second on the team averaging 14.2 points per game, while sophomore forward Heather Turner leads the team in scoring (14.3) and in rebounding (8.6).
Arizona State Survive Scare
ASU held off UTSA for a 78-64 victory. The Roadrunners came within six points (61-55) with 6:06 reminding in the game, but the Sun Devils 18-9 run in the last five minutes sealed the win for ASU. The Sun Devils had three players scoring in double figures with Westerberg leading the way with a game-high 17 points.
Ewalefo Double’s Up
The Las Vegas, Nev. native recorded her first double-double in her first start of the season against No. 10 Arizona State on Dec. 19 with 16 points and career-high 10 rebounds. The junior transfer went 7-for-12 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from the free throw line.
50’s Across The Board
UTSA has shot over 50 percent from the floor in four consecutive halves. The Runners were 26-of-50 for 52% against Davidson on Dec. 3 and repeated their performance with a season-high 53% against Arizona State on Dec. 19. The last time UTSA shot over 50% in consecutive games was against Quinnipiac on Dec. 31, 2004 and Louisiana Monroe on Jan. 6, 2005.
It’s Raining 3’s
Against Davidson, UTSA broke the old mark of 10 3-pointers made back on Feb. 28, 1993 against Northwestern State by nailing 11 3-pointers, while shooting a season-best 61% beyond the arc. Dunson made a career-high five treys, while Davis swished three trifectas.
Moving On Up
Dunson began the season 11th on the all-time list with 46 career made 3-pointers. She has leaped her way to fifth with 62 trifectas made. Dunson has connected on 16 3-point baskets this season.
Setting New Marks
Sandefur has collected 393 rebounds for 12th in the all-time rebounding list and is seven boards shy of 400. Fellow teammate, Mingee ranks 14th with 367 boards. Both players are on pace of cracking the top 10 list in rebounds.
Mingee is seven points shy of becoming the 16th Runners to eclipse the 700 points mark. She currently ranks 16th with 693 points in the all-time scoring list. Also making a push in the scoring department is Sandefur who ranks 20th with 589 points.
Freshman Bring Their Game To College Ranks
Gibbs, Fox, and Brown have made the transition from high school ball to college ball well known, as they have combined for 17.0 points per game in their first eight games and have combined a total of four games in double-digits. Brown has accounted for two game with 10 or more points.
Destiny Earns All-Tournament
Brown, a 6-0 forward, earned all-tournament honors at the Gene Hackerman Invitational. She averaged 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Brown went 9-for-10 from the free throw line and shot 44% from the floor.
Runners Tamed The Wildcats
In its 75-69 win over Davidson, UTSA held the Wildcats to 36% shooting from the field, including 23% behind the arc. UTSA’s bench outscored Davidson’s bench 23-16. Brown had nine points off the pine to lead UTSA.
Techesters Come Alive In The Second Half
The Runners were leading 34-31 at the end of the first half. With 16:45 left in the game, La. Tech went on a 6-0 run to take its first lead (38-36) since the 8:03 mark of the first half and pulled ahead by as many as 11 points later in the frame. La. Tech shot 50 percent in the second half, after shooting 32% from the floor in the first.
Fast Start For UTSA
UTSA’s 4-1 mark was the second best start in school history. During the 1996-97 season, former UTSA coach Terry Gray began the season winning his first six games.
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 seven 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.