Game 18
UTSA Roadrunners (10-7, 3-1 SLC) at Texas State Bobcats (8-9, 2-3 SLC)
Wednesday, Jan. 28 ? 7 p.m.
Strahan Coliseum ? 7,200
Series History: Texas State leads, 29-21
Opening Tip: UTSA looks to stay on the winning track as it heads to I-35 rival Texas State for a pivotal Southland Conference game Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Strahan Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Roadrunners On The Web: Fans can follow the Roadrunners this season at goUTSA.com. All 29 games can be heard for free with Stu Paul providing play-by-play analysis (stream provided by Yahoo! Sports). Fans also can enjoy watching the Runners on the Web, as all 16 home games will be broadcast live on goUTSA.com (RowdyZone subscription required). Live stats will be available at no cost.
UTSA Tube: The Roadrunners will be featured on television three times this season. Time Warner Cable (Channel 50) will broadcast the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi contest on Jan. 24 and UT Arlington on Feb. 14. The Southland Television Network will air the Northwestern State home game on Jan. 24.
Series Meeting: The Bobcats lead the all-time series, 29-21, against the Roadrunners. Texas State has won four of the last five meetings, including a 85-79 win on Feb. 23, 2008 in San Antonio. The Bobcats are 14-10 at Strahan Coliseum versus the Runners. This is the 50th meeting between these two squads.
Last Time Out: 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 last Saturday 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.
Scouting Texas State: The Bobcats are coming off a 65-61 loss at Lamar last Saturday. Texas State is 8-9 overall and 2-3 in SLC play and have dropped its last two conference contest. Gabriell Mattox and Ashley Cole are averaging a team-best 10.1 points per game, while Cole also tops the squad in rebounding at 5.5 boards per contest.
Runners In The SLC: UTSA has several players are among the league’s top performers this season. Senior Monica Gibbs is one of three Roadrunners ranking in the top 10 scoring at 14.6 points per game, but leads the SLC in assists per game (5.9). Sophomore Amber Gregg and senior Onika Anderson stand sixth and eighth, respectively. The Runners have three players ranked in the top five in rebounding. Anderson’s 10.5 broads per contest tops the leagues, while senior Ryba Pawlaczyk is third at 9.7 rpg. Gibbs sits fourth with 9.1 rebounds per game. Anderson sports the conference-best field goal percentage at 52.6 percent. Meanwhile, Gregg is second in free throw percentage at 81.4 percent, ranks first in 3-pointers made at 2.8 a clip and is logging in the fifth-best 3-point field goal percentage at 32.7.
Gibbs Collects WBCA Honorable Mention: Senior Monica Gibbs collected WBCA honorable mention honors from the month of December. The Stillwater, Okla., native led the Roadrunners to a 4-1 mark and averaged 15.2 points and 11.6 rebounds per game during the month of December.
It’s Good To Receive: UTSA connected on a season-high 22 free throws in the win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 24. The Roadrunners also shot a season-best 84.6 percent from the charity stripe.
Jack’em Up: UTSA set the single-game mark for 3-point attempts with 35 at UT Arlington on Jan. 17, breaking the school mark of 31 tries set a against Tulsa on Jan. 5 of this season.
In The Books: UTSA’s 53-point win against Nicholls on Jan. 14, was the fourth-largest victory margin in school-history.
Defensive Clinic: The Roadrunners displayed a stellar defense against Nicholls, as they the Colonels to 14 field goals and 33 points, including 13 in the second half, and 22.2 percent shooting.
Bench Production: Freshman Cori Cooper came off the bench to scored a career-high 21 points, while junior Alysse Davis also added a career-best 15 versus Nicholls on Jan. 14. The Roadrunners held a 48-7 advantage over the Colonels’ reserves.
Amber Tabbed SLC POW: Sophomore Amber Gregg picked up her first career SLC Player of the Week honors on Jan. 12. The Austin native led UTSA to a pair of wins against Tulsa (Jan. 5) and at McNeese State five days later. She averaged 21.0 points and 2.5 steals per game last week.
Raining 3’s: UTSA drained a school-record 13 3-pointers in the win against Tulsa on Jan. 5. The previous mark was 12 three balls versus Buffalo on Dec. 30, 2005. Sophomore Amber Gregg led the assault with six treys.
Balanced Attack: UTSA posted five players in double-figure in the win against Oral Roberts on Dec. 20. The Roadrunners were led by senior Onika Anderson’s 20 points, while senior Ryba Pawlaczyk added 15 points. Senior Monica Gibbs netted 13 and sophomores Amber Gregg and Whitney York chipped in with 10. In win against Rice, the Roadrunners had four players score double-digits on Jan. 3. Senior Monica Gibbs led the way with 17 points, while senior Onika Anderson had 14 points. Sophomore Whitney and junior Alysse Davis posted 13 and 10, respectively.
Balanced Scoring: UTSA has five players averaging double-figures through 16 games this season. Senior Monica Gibbs is averaging a team-best 14.6 points per game, followed by sophomore Amber Gregg at 12.7 ppg, Junior Onika Anderson’s 12.3 points per contest ranks third, while sophomore Jordan Stark is averaging 10.8 ppg and senior Ryba Pawlaczyk has logged in 10.1 points per game this season.
Cleaning The Glass: The Roadrunners posted a season-high 57 rebounds against Nicholls on Jan. 14. UTSA leads the SLC in rebounding at 44.4 rpg. UTSA racked up 55 rebounds in the win against Rice on Jan. 3. Seniors Onika Anderson and Monica Gibbs combined for 23 of the 55 boards.
Glass Cleaners: A trio of Roadrunners in seniors Onika Anderson, Ryba Pawlaczyk and Monica Gibbs are among the top Southland Conference rebounders. Anderson leads the league averaging 10.5 rpg, while Pawlaczyk stands third at 9.7 rpg. Gibbs is fourth at 9.1 boards per contest. Anderson’s 10.5 rebounding average ranks 13th in the nation, while Pawlaczyk and Gibbs stand 34th and 41st, respectively.
Ball Security: Despite 12 turnovers in the first half against Tulsa on Jan. 5. UTSA committed only two miscues in the second frame, while forcing 12 Tulsa mishaps and 26 for the game.
Taking Care Of The Ball: The Roadrunners committed just six turnovers, tying a single-game record set against Southeastern Louisiana last February.
Rebounding Royalty: Senior Monica Gibbs’ 15 rebounds collected against High Point were more than enough to surpass Margaret Martinovich’s 778. Gibbs is lone Roadrunners to grab over 800 rebounds (836).
Gibbs Set Another Milestone: Senior Monica Gibbs became the second UTSA player in school history to record a triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and grabbed 12 rebounds against Huston-Tillotson on Dec. 6. Gibbs is one of four players in the nation to achieve this mark this season.
700-Rebound Club: Senior Monica Gibbs became the third Roadrunner in the program’s history to haul in 700 boards.
Among The Best Dishers: Senior Monica Gibbs’ 5.9 assists per game stands 11th in the country.
500 Dimes And Counting: Senior Monica Gibbs is the first Roadrunner in the program’s history to record over 500 assists. The Stillwater, Okla., native has dished out 572 dimes in her four-year career. Gibbs has handed out over 100 assists in her four seasons as a Roadrunners.
Reaching A Milestone: Gibbs became the 11th player in the program’s history to score over 1,000 points. She eclipsed that point total at Kansas State on Nov. 23. She currently has 1,194 career points in her four-year career. Gibbs currently stands sixth on the all-time scoring list.
30 Double-Doubles And Counting: Senior Monica Gibbs has collected six double-doubles this season to bring her career tally to 30 double-doubles in her four-year stint.
Onika Ropes Cowgirls: Senior Onika Anderson posted her league leading eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and 16 rebounds in the win at McNeese State on Jan. 10.
Onika Collects Another Double-Double: Senior Onika Anderson recorded her seventh double-double with 14 points and a dozen rebounds in the win against Rice on Jan. 3.
Anderson Too Much For High Point: Senior Onika Anderson led UTSA to victory with her team-leading sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Onika Leads The Way: Senior Onika Anderson recorded her fifth double-double of the season. The Pine Bluff, Ark., native tallied 20 points and 11 rebounds in the win against Oral Roberts on Dec. 20.
20 And 10: Senior Onika Anderson has posted three games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. She is averaging a double-double with 12.3 points and a team-best 10.5 rebounds per game this season.
Anderson Doubles Up The Wildcats: Senior Onika Anderson posted her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds at Kansas State on Nov. 23. The Pine Bluff, Ark., native has recorded 16 double-double in her two-year career.
Onika Brings The Offense: Senior Onika Anderson collected her first double-double of the season at TCU with 22 points and 13 rebounds on Nov. 16. Last season’s SLC Newcomer of the Year led UTSA with nine double-doubles in 2007-08.
Pawlaczyk Collects All-Classic Honors: Senior Ryba Pawlaczyk was named to the Wells Fargo New Year’s All-Classic Team. She averaged 10.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the two wins against Colorado State and High Point. The Wroclaw, Poland, native tallied a double-double with 14 points and 11 broads versus the Panthers on Dec. 30.
Ryba’s Breakout Season: Senior Ryba Pawlaczyk opened the 2008-09 campaign with back-to-back double-doubles. The Wroclaw, Poland, native is posting career-high numbers in scoring (10.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.7 rpg) this season. She also has recorded five double-doubles this season.
Block Party: Senior Ryba Pawlaczyk leads the team with 31 blocks and is among the top shot blocker in the league at 1.8 blocks per game.
Ryba Post Back-To-Back Double-Doubles: Senior Ryba Pawlaczyk has already tallied a pair of double-doubles to open the season. The Wroclaw, Poland, native netted a 20 points and hauled in 12 rebounds against Texas A&M International on Nov. 14. She followed that performance with 17 points and a career-best 15 boards at TCU on Nov. 16.
Double-Double Tandem: Seniors Onika Anderson and Ryba Pawlaczyk are becoming a force in the post. The duo have recorded double-doubles in four games this season. Anderson and Pawlaczyk first achieve this at TCU on Nov. 20. In the month of December, they produced three games with double-doubles. The latest one coming against High Point on Dec. 30.
Gregg Halters Islanders: Sophomore Amber Gregg scored 17 points, including 14 in the second half against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 24. Gregg also went a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw and netted 6-of-6 in the final minute of play against the Islanders.
Amber Handles Cowgirls: Sophomore Amber Gregg helped UTSA post its first conference win with 17 points at McNeese State on Jan. 10. She seven of her 17 points came from the charity stripe.
Gregg Dials Long Distance: Sophomore Amber Gregg matched her career-high of six 3-pointers, including going 4-of-5 from downtown in the first half. Gregg has connected on a team-best 35 treys.
Knocking Them Down: Sophomore Amber Gregg knocked down a career-best six 3-pointers in the win against High Point on Dec. 30.
Gregg Steps Into New Role: Sophomore Amber Gregg made three starts last season, but in 2008-09 she has made 12 starts in 13 games and is responding with career numbers. The Austin native is averaging a career-high 12.7 points per game. She netted a career-best 25 points in the win against Tulsa on Jan. 5.
Welcome Back Jordan: Sophomore Jordan Stark, who missed the last 11 games due to injury, made her return to the rotation against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 24. Stark shook off any rust when she connected on her first field goal attempt. She ended the game with eight points and four rebounds in 14 minutes of action.
Picking Up Were She Left Off: With a season already under her belt, sophomore Jordan Stark picked up where she left off on Nov. 14 against TAMIU. The Weatherford, Okla., native scored 19 points on 6-of-9 from the floor, dished out a career-high six assists and connected on five 3-pointers in the win against the Dustdevils.
Stark Times 3: Sophomore Jordan Stark tied her career-high with five 3-pointers to lead UTSA with 19 points at Wichita State on Nov. 21. She tops the team with 14 treys and is shooting 38 percent from downtown range. Jordan ranks third on the team with 14 3-pointers.
Stealing The Show: Sophomore Jordan Stark posted a career-high seven steals against Texas A&M International on Nov. 14. The Weatherford, Okla, native was two shy of the school-record set by Rhonda Hoffman, who collected nine against Sam Houston State on Jan. 27, 1984.
No Rust Here: Junior Alysse Davis sat out last season and part of this year due to an NCAA transfer rule. Davis made her Roadrunner debut against Oakland on Dec. 19, since then the Corpus Christi native has establish herself as the sixth-man and responded with 6.8 points per game. She netted a career-high 14 points against Colorado State on Dec. 29.
Runners Preseason Favorites: UTSA was the unanimous choice to win the West Division in both the Southland Conference Coaches and Sports Information Directors preseason polls, the league office announced on Oct. 21. The Roadrunners collected seven first-place votes and totaled 62 points in the coaches rankings, finishing ahead of 2007-08 SLC Regular Season Champion Texas State, which picked up 49 points. Meanwhile, UTSA garnered 10 of the 12 first place votes in the SIDs Poll for a total of 65 points. The Bobcats nabbed the other two first-place votes and finished with 47 points, while the Lamar tied Texas State with 47 points. It makes the second time the Roadrunners were selected as preseason SLC favorites. The last time they were picked atop in the rankings was 2003-04.
Next Game: UTSA returns home for an SLC match up against divisional for Lamar on Jan. 31 at the Convocation Center. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m.
