· Game notes (.pdf)
HOUSTON - After picking up an easy 15-point victory against Southeastern Louisiana and advancing to the semifinal game of the O’Reilly Auto Parts/Southland Conference Tournament. UTSA will face the top seed Texas-Arlington Friday afternoon at the Campbell Center. The game can be heard at go.UTSA.com with Assistant Sports Information Director Carlos Valdez calling the action from courtside.
Series meeting: The series is tied ,20-20, between UTSA and UTA. The Mavericks swept the season series against the Roadrunners. Texas-Arlington defeated UTSA 67-38 at Texas Hall on Jan. 23. Then, collected the 16-point victory in San Antonio to complete the sweep. This will be the 41st meeting between these two clubs and the second straight time UTSA and UTA will meet in the SLC Tournament semifinal game. Last season, the Roadrunners escaped Texas Hall with a 76-75 triple overtime win on March 8.
Last meeting: Sophomore Monica Gibbs’ 20-point performance was not enough, as UTSA dropped a 68-52 decision against Texas-Arlington on Feb. 15 at the Convocation Center. Gibbs led the Roadrunners with a game-high 22 points and six rebounds. Senior Vivian Ewalefo added 13 points and freshman Lynsey Freeman dished out three assists. Tiffeny Riles (16 points, game-high 20 rebounds) and Ashley Bobb (19, 12) both had double-doubles for the Mavericks. Terra Wallace added 19 points and eight boards.
About Texas-Arlington: Top seeded Mavericks took care of No. 8 seed Northwestern State Lady Demons 62-53 in the first round of the O’Reilly Auto Parts/Southland Conference Tournament Wednesday night at the Campbell Center in Houston.
UTA was led by Tiffeny Riles’ 16 points, while Ashley Bobb posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Terra Wallace added 11 points on the night.
UTA is 22-8 on the season and have won 17 consecutive games dating to Jan. 4. The Mavericks last defeat came at Tulane (68-65) on Dec. 30.
Last time out: Sophomore Monica Gibbs’ 13th double-double of the year helped lift the UTSA to a 67-52 victory against Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday night in the first round of the O’Reilly Auto Parts/Southland Conference Tournament. The Roadrunners won their fifth game in a row.
Gibbs, who collected her sixth straight double-double, led four UTSA players in double figures 13 points and she also grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out eight assists. Senior Vivian Ewalefo and junior Terrie Davis each scored a game-high 15 points, while sophomore Tia Bogan added 14.
Points distribution: In the win against Southeastern Louisiana, UTSA posted four players in double figures. Senior Vivian Ewalefo and junior Terrie Davis each had 15 points apiece, while sophomores Tia Bogan and Monica Gibbs chipped in with 14 and 13 points respectively.
Turnover relief: The Roadrunners outscored the Lady Lions 20-9 in points off turnovers and forcing 13 Southeastern Louisiana miscues.
New month same results: Sophomore Monica Gibbs tallied five double-doubles in February. Meanwhile, in March she’s totaled three consecutive double-doubles to bring her league-leading total to 13 on the season and extending her streak to six straight dating back to the Texas State game on Feb. 17.
Beating up on teams: UTSA has showed no mercy over the last five games, as they have collected double-digit wins. The Roadrunners have defeated their opponents by an average of 21.2 points per game margin, including a 41-point victory against McNeese State on Feb. 22.
Defensive stand: The Roadrunners have played stellar defense during their five-game winning streak and have been holding opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field. UTSA held McNeese State (Feb. 22) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Feb. 24) to 29% from the floor. Meanwhile, at Sam Houston State (March 1), UTSA’s defense held SHSU’s offense to 30.4% shooting. The Roadrunners held SFA to 33.3% shooting from the field on March 3. UTSA put the clamps on SLU’s offense and held them to 38% shooting on Wednesday night.
All-Conference performers: Senior Vivian Ewalefo and sophomore Monica Gibbs were named to the 2006-07 All Southland Conference teams, the league office announced on March 5. Ewalefo collected first-team honors for the second year in a row, while Gibbs picked up her first all-conference award when she was named to the second team.
Gibbs collects second SLC Player of the Week honor: Sophomore Monica Gibbs was named co-Aeropostale/Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. Gibbs collected the weekly award for the second time this season. She averaged 13.5 points and 11 rebounds per game and now leads the league with 12 double-doubles this season.
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 16.1 points per game, which leads the team. The Las Vegas native has scored double figures in 27 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.
Climbing the charts: Junior Terrie Davis stands in second place on UTSA’s chart with 109 career 3-pointers. The Houston, Texas, achieved this mark hitting two 3-pointers against McNeese State on Feb. 22 to surpass Nicole Dunson (98). Davis is the second UTSA player to connect on 100 or more 3-pointers.
Double-Double tandem: Senior Vivian Ewalefo and sophomore Monica Gibbs have combined for 18 double-doubles this season. Gibbs leads the team with 13 double-doubles on the season. In March, she has recorded three double-doubles with her latest coming against SLU with 13 points and 14 rebounds. In February, she has collected five double-doubles. 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 16 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.
