March 6, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930
UTSA travels to Arlington for a semifinal match up against No. 2 seed Texas-Arlington
Game Notes | Live Audio | GameTracker
SAN ANTONIO – The No. 3-seed UTSA women’s basketball team heads to Arlington for a semifinal match up against the No. 2-seed Texas-Arlington Mavericks this Wednesday, March 8. Tip is set for 7 p.m. at Texas Hall in the semifinal round of the the O’Reilly Auto Parts/Southland Conference Tournament.
O'Reilly Auto Parts/Southland Conference Basketball Tournament
Semifinal Round
UTSA Roadrunners (17-11)
at
Texas-Arlington Mavericks (20-8)
Wednesday, March 8 - 7 p.m.
Texas Hall - Arlington, Texas
Last Outing:
Senior Katie Sandefur posted career-highs of 23 points and made five 3-pointers to lead UTSA Roadrunners to a 61-46 win over Southeastern Louisiana in the first round of the O’Reilly Auto Parts/Southland Conference Tournament Monday night at the Convocation Center. Sandefur was 6-for-8 from floor, including 5-of-6 from downtown. Vivian Ewalefo added eight points, while Monica Gibbs collected a game-high 11 rebounds and dished eight assists. The Roadrunners overcame poor shooting in the first half, with a blazing second half, shooting over 40 percent from the field and outscoring SLU 38-24. Sandefur scored 17 of her 23 points in the second half.
Setting The Scene
The No. 3 seed UTSA hits the road for a semifinal match up against the No. 2 seed Texas-Arlington Mavericks Wednesday, March 8, at Texas Hall in Arlington, Texas, schedule tip set for 7 p.m.
Scouting Report On Texas-Arlington
Texas-Arlington coming off a 72-56 win over the No. 7 seed McNeese State on March 6 at Texas Hall. The Mavericks were led by SLC Player of the Year Terra Wallace who had a game-high 32 points. UTA avenged a regular season end loss to McNeese State on March 3 at Burton Coliseum. UTA has won four of its last six games. Wallace leads the team and SLC averaging 19.1 points per game.
Last Meeting Between UTSA and UTA
UTSA defeated then league leading UTA in a double overtime thriller on Feb. 16 at the Convocation Center, 68-67. The Roadrunners were led by Ewalefo and Gibbs, who each posted a double-double. Ewalefo scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Gibbs chipped in with 15 points and 14 broads. Wallace held game-high honor with a career-high 34 points.
All-time Series
The Roadrunners won the only meeting this season, but UTA leads the all-time series 20-17 and are 13-4 in Texas Hall. UTSA has dropped three straight contests in Arlington. The last time, the Roadrunners won at Texas Hall on Dec. 20, 2001 with a 64-42 win.
Blair vs. Capps
Coach Rippetoe-Blair is 8-4 vs. Coach Capps. Blair is 2-3 in Texas Hall.
Sandefur Hot Shooting Carry UTSA Over SLU
In the win over SLU, Sandefur posted career-highs in points and 3-pointers made. She led the Roadrunners with 23 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including scoring 17 of her 23 points in the second half. She also nailed 5-of-6 3-pointers.
Dishing Dimes
Gibbs tied her career-high with eight assists against the Lady Lions. The Stillwater, Okla., native has led the Runners in assists nine times in the last 10 outing. Ranks first on the team with 124 dimes.
Roadrunners Garner SLC Awards
Four Runners earned SLC honors this season. Ewalefo was named Newcomer of the Year and selected first team all-SLC. Gibbs picked up the Freshman of the Year. Dunson also collected SLC honors. She was named to the third team all-SLC team. Mingee received all-SLC honorable mention.
Double Take
Ewalefo and Gibbs posted double-doubles in the win against Northwestern State. This marked the second time this season that both collected double-doubles in the same game. The first time the duo posted double-doubles was in the double overtime win against Texas-Arlington on Feb. 16.
Different Team Away From Home
The Roadrunners are 10-4 in the Convocation Center this season, but have posted a 4-6 mark on the road this season. In the pervious five road games, the Runners went 2-3. The road to the NCAA will have to be won on the road for UTSA.
Runners Ranks In SLC
Dunson leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.455) and ranked third in 3-pointers made per game (1.93) and eighth in field goal percentage (.455). Point guard Monica Gibbs stands second averaging 4.6 assists per game, while Ewalefo is fifth in the league with 7.3 rebounds per game and 10th in scoring (12.0).
Davis Connects From Long Distance
Davis entered intermission with two points. She began the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers en route to a 17 point outing. Davis’ five 3-pointers tied her career-high she set on Jan. 5 against Southeastern Louisiana, all of her treys came in the second half.
Lacy Rules The Paint
Mingee established post dominance from start to finish against Sam Houston State. The Bearkats had no answer for Mingee in the paint. She scored 12 of her 17 points within 2 feet of the basket. The Piedmont, Okla., native shot 6-for-9 from the field. This year Mingee tops the Runners in field goal percentage averaging 47% and ranks fifth in the SLC also. At the free throw line, Mingee leads the team with a 76% accuracy. Mingee is 13th averaging 0.71 blocks per game.
Downtown Dunson
Against SFA, Dunson surpassed former UTSA player Rosie Smith for second all-time with 97 career 3-pointers made. Dunson stands sixth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage. Dunson trails Philicia Ross for the number one spot. She is the all-time leader in 3-point field goal percentage at 43%. Her 51 triecters is six shy of the single-season record of 56 3-pointers made by Tammy Rogers during the 1990-91 season.
Double Up Vivian
The Las Vegas, Nev., native has scored in double figures 16 times this season and has led them in scoring 10 times. Also has posted six double-doubles this season.
Game On For Sandefur
Sandefur is on paced of became the all-time leader with 114 career games played. She passed with former UTSA player Kim Reed who had appeared in 112 games.
200th Career Victory
Coach Rippetoe-Blair won her 200th career game with a 67-57 win over Nicholls State on Feb. 2.
Another 10+ Season
The win over Northwestern State secured Coach Rippetoe-Blair’s sixth straight season with 10 or more wins. The win against Sam Houston State also gave coach Rippetoe-Blair another 10+ wins in SLC play for the sixth year in-a-row.
Who’s Next For The Roadrunners
UTSA would face the winner of the Stephen F. Austin and Louisiana-Monroe game on Saturday, March 11, in the O’Reilly Auto Parts/Southland Conference Tournament Championship game at 3 p.m.