| Senior Monica Gibbs scored a game-high 17 points on Saturday. |
SAN ANTONIO ? The UTSA women’s basketball team got off to a fast start with a balanced offensive attack and extended its winning streak to four games with a 81-50 win against Rice on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
Senior guard Monica Gibbs led four Roadrunners (6-6) in double figures with a game-high 17 points and the Stillwater, Okla., native also grabbed 11 rebounds for the 29th double-double of her career. Meanwhile, senior forward Onika Anderson posted her seventh double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-best dozen boards. Sophomore guard Whitney York and junior guard Alysse Davis chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively, and York also dished out a career-high seven assists.
UTSA hauled in a season-best 55 rebounds, including 18 on offense, which helped lead to 42 points in the paint. The Roadrunners committed just six turnovers, tying a single-game record set against Southeastern Louisiana last February, while forcing 17 Rice miscues that led to 26 points.
“I thought we were ready to play and were focused today,” head coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair said. “We stuck to the game plan and didn’t allow their best player get off to a fast start. We also rebounded well, as Ryba and Onika dominated the glass for us. I think we are starting to come together as a team and getting contributions from everyone on the team.”
Melissa Wittmayer was the lone Owl (4-8) to reach double digits, as she netted a team-high 12 points.
Rice scored the first four points of the second half to make it a 47-23 contest at the 18-minute mark. However, it would be the closest the Owls would get the rest of the way, as UTSA responded with a 23-5 run over the next 10 minutes for its largest lead at 70-28.
The Roadrunners got off to a fast start by making their first three baskets to grab an early 7-0 lead. The Owls got within eight at 20-12, but Anderson’s bucket capped off another 7-0 run and gave UTSA a 27-12 edge. Redshirt freshman forward Cierra Martin’s baseline jumper as the clock expired sent the Birds to the locker room with a 47-19 advantage.
UTSA closes out its four-game home stand with a 6 p.m. tilt against Tulsa on Monday, Jan. 5.