Feb. 16, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930
Vivian Ewalefo and Monica Gibbs Double-Doubles Pace UTSA To A 68-67 Double-Overtime Win Over League-Leading Texas-Arlington
Box Score | Photo Gallery
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Junior forward Vivian Ewalefo and freshman guard Monica Gibbs each posted double-doubles to lead the UTSA women’s basketball team to a 68-67 double-overtime win over league-leading Texas-Arlington in Southland Conference action at the Convocation Center Thursday night.
UTSA improves to 14-9 overall and 9-3 in SLC play and moves to within one game of first place. Meanwhile, UTA dips to 15-7 and 9-2 in league play.
Ewalefo (right) paced UTSA with her second straight double-double, fourth in the last five games, with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Monica Gibbs posted her first career double-double with career-highs 15 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, in 46 minutes of action.
Junior Terra Wallace’s career-high 34 points led UTA in scoring, while junior Tojjinay Thompson added 13 points. Junior Ashley Bobb led UTA with a game-high 15 rebounds.
Texas-Arlington jumped early on UTSA with a 9-5 lead at the 15:41 mark. UTSA tied it 9-all with 14:51 left in the first half, when senior Nicole Dunson connected on a 15-footer. The Mavericks increased their lead 17-13 with 11:46 left in the frame.
The Runners took their first lead of the game (26-17) with a 13-0 run with 7:09 remaining in the half. Sophomore Terrie Davis led UTSA with five points, while senior center Lacy Mingee and Gibbs each scored four points apiece during the run. The Roadrunners pushed their lead to 11 points (30-19) on Ewalefo’s turnaround jumper with 3:52 left.
UTA cut the deficit to 30-24 to close out the half.
The Mavericks stormed out in the second half to pull within 32-31 when Thompson completed a 3-point play with 17:21 left. Wallace gave UTA the lead scoring six straight points and pushing the lead 37-32 at the 14:39 mark.
With 7:34 remaining, Gibbs' (left) pull up jumper gave UTSA a 42-41 lead.
Wallace’s free throw with 4:07 to go in the game gave UTA a 48-46 lead; however, Ewalefo knotted the game at 48-48 on a pair of free throws with 3:29 left in the game.
Gibbs jumper from the right wing come up short as time expired, sending the game to overtime at 50-50 all.
In the first overtime, Wallace’s 3-point basket from the left wing gave the Mavericks a 55-53 lead, but then a pair of free throws by Ewalefo tied the game 55-55 with 3:04 to go in OT. Thompson’s lay-up with 48 ticks left gave UTA a two-point lead (59-57); however, Dunson’s banker retied the game at 59-all with 13 seconds remaining in overtime. Junior Ana Oliveira jumper didn’t connect as time ended and sending the game to double overtime.
In the second overtime, Gibbs gave UTSA a 60-59 lead on free throw made, but Thompson tied the game at 60-all with a free throw at the 3:33 mark.
Mingee’s turnaround shot from the left block gave UTSA a 66-64, Dunson upped the lead to 67-64 with 42 seconds remaining. Wallace’s 3-pointer from the right corner came up short, as Gibbs got a piece of the shot. Senior Katie Sandefur’s free throw with 14 seconds gave UTSA 68-64 cushion.
Freshman Jamie Buxkemper connected on a 3-pointer as time expired in the second overtime, but UTSA held on for the 68-67 win.
The Roadrunners continue their homestand this Saturday, Feb. 18, when UTSA takes on I-35 rival Texas State at the Convocation Center.