SAN ANTONIO - After picking up a pair of Southland Conference wins and clinching a spot at the O’Reilly/Southland Conference Tournament last week, UTSA looks to extend its winning streak to three games this Thursday night when they travel to Sam Houston State. The game can be heard go.UTSA.com with Assistant Sports Information Director Carlos Valdez calling the action from courtside.
Series meeting: UTSA leads the all-time series, 25-13, against Sam Houston State. The Roadrunners are 10-8 at Johnson Coliseum and have won 11 straight meetings against the Lady Bearkats.
Last meeting: Sophomore Monica Gibbs’ double-double led UTSA to a 75-60 win against Sam Houston State on Feb. 1 at the Convocation Center. Gibbs 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.
About Sam Houston State: The Lady Bearkats dropped a pair of Southland Conference games last week at Texas-Arlington (Feb. 22) and against Texas State (Feb. 24). Sam Houston State is 5-22 on the season and are 2-12 in SLC play. SHSU has dropped four of its last five contests, including four consecutive games. Sophomore Lydia Gonzales leads the team in scoring with 8.8 points per game, while Junior Adah Wells tops the squad with 5.7 rebounds per contest.
Last time out: Senior Vivian Ewalefo and sophomore Monica Gibbs posted double-doubles to lead UTSA to an easy 61-43 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday night. The game was played in front of 1,655 fans, the largest crowd on the season at the Convocation Center. Ewalefo posted her sixth double-double of the season with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead three Roadrunners in double figures. Gibbs recorded her 10th double-double with 13 points and 11 boards and also dished out game-best eight assists. Sophomore Tia Bogan chipped in with 10 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Taking it easy: Senior Vivian Ewalefo averaged 24.5 minutes last week, but countered her shorts nights with back-to-back 20-points performance. Ewalefo posted her sixth double-double of the season with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes last Saturday night versus TAMU-CC. She posted a career-high of 28 points on Feb. 22, in the win against McNeese State.
A doubling February: Sophomore Monica Gibbs tallied five double-doubles in eight games played during February. She averaged 17.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in February.
Sharing the ball: In their two wins against McNeese State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Roadrunners dished out a combine 40 assists. Against the Cowgirls, UTSA posted a season-high 25 dimes. Sophomore Monica Gibbs averaged eight assists in both wins.
Home cooking: The Roadrunners protected their house with stellar defense in their two wins last week. UTSA held McNeese State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a combine 29.4 percent shooting from the floor and allowed 20.6% from beyond the arc. The Cowgirls were 18-for-62 from the field (29%), while the Islanders managed to connect on 17 field goals (29.8%).
It’s getting hot in the Convo: UTSA shot a season-best 57.9 percent from the floor in the win against McNeese State on Feb. 22. The Roadrunners connected on 33-of-57 field goals for the entire game. UTSA was 18-of-30 from floor (60%) in the first half. The 57.9% shooting percentage was the second-best percentage in conference play.
Gibbs’ 20 outing: Last season, sophomore Monica Gibbs didn’t have a game with 20 or more points, but this season she’s collected four 20-point performance. Gibbs recorded her first 20-point outing against Eastern Washington on Nov. 24. Gibbs posted three games with 20 or more points in the month of February, including a career-high 23 at Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 8.
Scoring sensation: Senior Vivian Ewalefo is averaging a career-best 16.3 points per game. The Las Vegas native has scored double figures in 23 games. She started the season with six straight double-digit performance. Ewalefo scored a career-high 28 points against McNeese State on Feb. 22. Ewalefo scored 17 of her 28 points in the second half. On the year, she has six 20-point games.
What a 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 17% (66%). In 10 games this season, she has shot 70% or better from the free throw line, compare to three times during the 2005-06 season. Against Texas-Arlington, Gibbs made a career-high 12 freebies.
Climbing the charts: Junior Terrie Davis stands in second place on UTSA’s chart with 102 career 3-pointers. The Houston, Texas, achieved this mark hitting two 3-pointers against McNeese State, to surpass Nicole Dunson (98). Davis is the second UTSA player to connect on 100 or more 3-pointers.
Playing all the way: With a short bench this season, UTSA’s starters are averaging 32.5 minutes per game, while in SLC play they are playing 33.1 minutes. Four of the five starters are averaging over 30 minutes per contest. In 16 of the 26 games played this season, at least one player has played the entire game. Freshman Lynsey Freeman leads the team with eight complete games, while junior Terrie Davis and sophomore Monica Gibbs are tied with seven complete games.
Double-Double tandem: Senior Vivian Ewalefo and sophomore Monica Gibbs have combined for 16 double-doubles this season. Gibbs leads the team with 10 double-doubles on the season. In February, she has collected five double-doubles, with her latest coming against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with 13 points and 11 rebounds. On Jan. 27, she recorded fifth double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Gibbs collected three double-doubles during the month of December. The Stillwater, Okla., native posted her first one against Eastern Washington with 20 points and 14 rebounds. In just two seasons at UTSA, Gibbs has already recorded 13 career double-doubles.
Ewalefo has recorded sixth double-double on the year, giving her 13 for her career. The Las Vegas native posted her first 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 on Jan. 23. During the month of February, Ewalefo recorded two double-doubles.
