March 3, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930
Ewalefo, Gibbs combine for 37 points to pace UTSA past Northwestern State, 69-58
Box Score
NATCHITOCHES, La. – Junior Vivian Ewalefo and freshman Monica Gibbs (right) combined for 37 points to pace the UTSA women’s basketball team to a 69-58 victory over Northwestern State in Southland Conference action Friday night at Prather Coliseum.
With the win UTSA, ends a four-game losing streak at Prather and improves to 16-11 overall and 11-5 in SLC play. Meanwhile, Northwestern State dropped its fifth straight game and dips to 11-16 overall and 4-12 in conference play.
Ewalefo led UTSA with her sixth double-double of the season with 20 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. Gibbs posted her second double-double on the year with a career-best 17 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Lacy Mingee and Katie Sandefur added eight points apiece.
Leading scorer for the Lady Demons was senior Sheronda Bell with a game-high 22 points. Junior Chassidy Jones chipped in with 14 points.
UTSA opened the first half with a 6-2 lead at the 13:57 mark when junior Ana Oliveira made good on a driving layup. Jones’ jumper tied the game 6-6 with 13:18 remaining in the first half.
The Roadrunners used a 12-2 run with 10:36 to go in the half to open the game up. Gibbs led the way with six points and freshman Nichelle Parks added four points.
A 3-pointer by Jones cut the UTSA deficit to 22-16 at the 8:01 mark. However, Gibbs pushed the lead back to eight points with a layup.
The Lady Demons went on an 8-4 run to pull within 27-24 with 3:24 left in the frame. NSU drained four straight free throws during the run.
UTSA entered the half with a 33-26 lead, courtesy of a 6-2 run.
The Roadrunners opened the second half on a 6-0 run to increase their lead to 39-26 when Sandefur connected on a layup with 18:33 to go in the second half. The Lady Demons trimmed the lead to 46-40 on a pair of free throws by sophomore Tena Matthews with 12:08 remaining in the game.
The Runners pushed their lead 59-47 with a 8-2 run at the 5:34 mark. Northwestern State managed to cut the lead to seven points when senior Shenise Milliner connected on a short jumper with 1:03 left. This would be the closest NSU would get for the rest of the game.
Ewalefo nailed four straight free throws to seal the victory 69-58 for UTSA.
UTSA returns to the Convocation Center to host Southeastern Louisiana in the first round of the O’Reilly Auto Parts/Southland Conference Tournament on Monday, March 6, at 7 p.m.