Dec. 30, 2005
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930
Second-half rally propels Buffalo to 73-62 victory over UTSA
Box Score
SAN ANTONIO – UTSA broke the school’s single-game record with 12 3-pointers but Buffalo rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to score a 73-62 victory over the Roadrunners on the first day of the Wells Fargo/UTSA Convocation Center Friday night at the Convocation Center.
Sophomore Terrie Davis and senior Nicole Dunson (right) led the UTSA (5-5) outside attack with 13 and 12 points, respectively, combining for eight of the 12 3-pointers.
Heather Turner led four Buffalo (5-5) players in double figures with 23 points. Jamie Schiebner posted 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Brooke Meunier and Belinda Gibb pitched in with 11 apiece.
Buffalo also took advantage of a 24-of-33 shooting performance at the free throw line, while UTSA only reached the line four times, making two. In addition, the Bulls shot 46.8 percent from the field while limiting the Roadrunners to 24-of-65 shooting (36.9 percent).
The Roadrunners got off to a nice start following the 11-day layoff since the loss at No. 10 Arizona State on Dec. 19. Dunson and freshman Vivian Ewalefo combined for UTSA’s first 12 points and a Davis 3-pointer from the top of the key at the 11:28 mark gave the Roadrunners a 15-8 lead out of the gates.
Dunson’s third 3-pointer of the half pushed the lead to nine at 22-13 with 7:52 left before the break. The Bulls answered with a 13-7 run over the next 5:48 capped by a three from Viorica Badinici at the 2:04 mark to pull within 29-26.
Davis’ second three and a Kara McKay free throw made it 33-26 at the half.
Buffalo used a game-changing 16-3 run to take a 42-36 lead five minutes into the second half. An 8-2 UTSA run keyed by a pair of trifectas from Dunson and senior Katie Sandefur knotted the score at 44-all with just under 12 minutes remaining.
Buffalo built a 61-54 advantage on a fastbreak lay-up by Stephanie Bennett, but Davis connected from downtown at the 3:54 mark to pull the Roadrunners back within four, 61-57. Her 3-pointer was the 11th of the contest for UTSA, tying the single-game record set earlier this month in a win against Davidson.
However, UTSA would get no closer the rest of the way as Buffalo held the Roadrunners scoreless over the next 3:33 en route to the 72-63 victory.
Tulsa defeated Colorado State, 69-65, in the first game Friday.
The Wells Fargo/UTSA New Year’s Classic continues Saturday with Buffalo and Tulsa meeting at 1 p.m., followed by UTSA and Colorado State at 3 p.m.