· Game notes (.pdf)
SAN ANTONIO - UTSA (7-12, 3-4 SLC) hits the road for a 6 p.m. SLC matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday.
Series meeting: Stephen F. Austin leads the all-time series, 29-4, against UTSA. The Ladyjacks are a perfect 15-0 versus the Roadrunners at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. UTSA and SFA have split the last four meetings, with each team winning on their own floor. Last season, the Ladyjacks took two of three matchups against the Roadrunners.
About Stephen F. Austin: The Ladyjacks are coming off a 76-65 win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last Wednesday night. SFA is tied with Texas State for second-place with a 6-2 Southland Conference record in the Western Division. Stephen F. Austin has won four of its last five games, including four straight contests. The Ladyjacks are led by senior Charity Egenti’s 17.1 points 9.3 rebounds per game. Egenti has upped her scoring and rebounds in SLC play averaging a double-double with 21.0 points and 10.8 boards per contest.
Last time out: Sophomore Monica Gibbs’ sixth double-double on the year led UTSA to a 75-60 win against Sam Houston State at the Convocation Center. Gibbs, who recorded her ninth career double-double, had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Vivian Ewalefo led four Roadrunners in double figures with a game-high 20 points, 16 of which came in the first half. Freshman Lynsey Freeman and junior Terrie Davis added 16 and 10 points, respectively.
One-Two Punch: Senior Vivian Ewalefo and sophomore Monica Gibbs combined for 38 points in the win against Sam Houston State. Ewalefo scored 16 of her 20 points of the first half, while Gibbs eight of her 18 in the second frame.
Scoring sensation: Senior Vivian Ewalefo is averaging a career-best 15.9 points per game. The Las Vegas native has scored double figures in 16 games and she started the year with six straight double-digit performance. Ewalefo scored a game-high 20 points in the win against Sam Houston, including 16 points in the first half. On the year, she has four 20 point games.
Difference a year makes: A year ago, sophomore Monica Gibbs shot 49 percent from the free throw line. This season, Gibbs has increased her percentage by 19% (68%). In nine games this season, she has shot 70% or better from the free throw line, compare to three times during the 2005-06 season. Against Sam Houston State, Gibbs made a career-high 10 freebies.
Second half surge: For the second straight game UTSA ended the first half shooting poorly. The Roadrunners shot 28.6 percent in the first half against Sam Houston, but managed to heat up in the second half connecting on 14-of-28 for 50%. At Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UTSA closed out the first frame shooting 35 percent however, they shot 60% in the second half.
Stealing the show: Junior Terrie Davis had a career-high eight steals in the game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Seven of her eight steals came in the first half. The Spring Woods High School product was one steal shy of tying the school record held by Rhonda Hoffman set against Sam Houston State on Jan. 27, 1984. Davis set a school record with her eight steals in a conference game.
Climbing the charts: Junior Terrie Davis has moved into fourth place on UTSA’s chart with 93 career 3-pointers and is two shy of surpassing Roise Smith for third. The Houston, Texas, sharpshooter is on pace to move into second place by end of the season and surpass last season’s total of 39 3-pointers. Davis is the fourth UTSA player to connect on 90 or more 3-pointers.
Playing all the way: With a short bench this season, UTSA’s starters are averaging 32.3 minutes per game, while in SLC play they are playing 33.3 minutes. Three of the five starters are averaging over 30 minutes per contest. In 11 of the 19 games played this season, at least one player has played the entire game. Junior Terrie Davis and sophomore Monica Gibbs have played in five complete games apiece, while freshman Lynsey Freeman has four complete contests.
Double-Double tandem: Senior Vivian Ewalefo and sophomore Monica Gibbs have combined for 10 double-doubles this season. Gibbs leads the team with six double-doubles on the season. She posted her team leading sixth in the win against Sam Houston with 18 points and 12 rebounds. On Jan. 27, she recorded fifth double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Gibbs collected two double-doubles during the Wells Fargo New Year’s Classic. The Stillwater, Okla., native posted her first one against Eastern Washington with 20 points and 14 rebounds. At UALR, Gibbs had her second double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 rebounds. In just two seasons at UTSA, Gibbs has already recorded nine career double-doubles.
Ewalefo has recorded four double-doubles on the year, giving her 11 for her career. The Las Vegas native posted her first double-double against Eastern Washington with 14 points and 10 rebounds on Nov. 24. Ewalefo collected her second and third double-double in the month of December. Against Texas-Arlington, she added her fourth with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Freebies: UTSA tops the Southland Conference with a 74% free throw percentage. Against Texas State, UTSA connected on 18-of-20 free throws for a season-high 90%. The Roadrunners are on pace to break the school record of 71.5% set during the 1989-90 season.
