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| Sophomore Whitney York scored a team-high 15 points on Friday night. |
SAN ANTONIO — Sophomore Whitney York led four UTSA players in double figures with a team-high 15 points to lead the Roadrunners past Navy, 69-57, in day one action of the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic Friday night at the Convocation Center.
UTSA improved to 3-2 on the season, while the Midshipmen suffered their second loss on the year (5-2).
York, who played six minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, scored all of her 15 points in the second half on 6-of-13 shooting from the floor. Freshman Judy Jones posted her first career double-double with 12 points and a career-best dozen rebounds. Junior Ashleigh Franklin and freshman Whitney Wright chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Roadrunners, who outscored Navy 48-26, came out blazing in the second half shooting 57.1 percent from the floor, including 85.7 percent from downtown (6-for-7).
York paced a 17-8 UTSA run with six points to pull the Roadrunners within one (39-38) with 13:33 to go in the second half.
York’s lone 3-pointer of the game gave the Roadrunners their first lead, 43-41, since the first half with 11 and change left. Franklin and freshman Jermini Malone converted on back-to-back treys to extend UTSA’s lead to 49-43 midway through the frame.
A three-point play by Angela Myers trimmed the Runners lead to 56-51, but a driving layup by Franklin and 3-pointer from Wright made it a 61-52 cushion with five minutes left on the clock.
The Roadrunners sealed the 12-point win going 4-for-6 from the free throw line.
Navy overcame a slow start to grab the 18-5 lead using a 16-0 run that span over seven minutes of the first half. Kristin Bowen led the way with 11 of the 18 points netted, including three 3-pointers.
Junior Kameisha Johnson and Malone connected on back-to-back three balls to make the score 20-11 with 7:28 to play.
Junior Amber Gregg knocked down a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it an 8-point Navy lead with 3:56 to go, but Cassie Consedine’s buckets (layup and 3-pointer) pushed the lead back to double digits (31-18) a minute later.
A Jones’ 17-footer and free throw cut Navy’s deficit to 31-21 at the half.
Bowen led Navy with a game-high 17 points, while K.C. Gordon, Angela Myers and Cassie Consedine each contributed 12 points apiece.
UTSA returns to action at 4 p.m. on Saturday against Jacksonville State (0-5).