| Senior Monica Gibbs scored a game-high 21 points on Saturday. |
SAN ANTONIO ? Senior guard Monica Gibbs and sophomore guard Amber Gregg combined for 38 points to lead UTSA past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 69-63, in Southland Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
Gibbs led the way with a game-high 21 points and Gregg tallied 17 on the strength of an 8-for-8 shooting performance from the charity stripe. Senior forward Onika Anderson grabbed 10 rebounds and scored eight points, while senior forward Ryba Pawlaczyk logged in a game-best 11 rebounds to go along with three blocks,. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Jordan Stark returned from an 11-game absence due to injury and netted eight points.
The Roadrunners shot a season-high 84.6 percent from the free throw (22-for-26).
The Islanders (6-11, 2-3 SLC) were led by Jade Davis’ 15 points, while Myeisha Myles and Adrienne netted 14 and 11, respectively.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi opened the second half with a 14-9 run over the first six minutes to get within five at 40-35, but Gregg scored five of the next six points to increase UTSA's lead to nine with 11:36 remaining.
However, the Islanders once again pulled within five when Lauren Smith was good on a freebie with 9:17 to play. UTSA then used a 13-8 spurt over the next five minutes to push its lead back to double-digits. AMCC rallied again late with a 10-2 spurt to get within two at 63-61with less than a minute to remaining, but Gregg went 6-of-6 from the charity stripe to clinch the six-point victory.
Despite starting 1-for-10 from the floor to start the game, UTSA made its next three baskets to grab its first lead of the game at 10-6 with 12:47 to go in the first half. Gregg then connected on a three ball from the left corner to push the lead to seven a minute later. A jumper by Smith made it a four-point game (20-16), back-to-back buckets by Gibbs and senior guard Andrea Garcia jumper gave the Roadrunners their largest lead of the stanza at 29-19 with 1:55 to play. UTSA went on to lead 31-21 at the half.
The Roadrunners are back in action on Wednesday night when they hit the road for a 7 p.m. showdown at I-35 rival Texas State at Strahan Coliseum.