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| Sophomore Whitney York scored a game-high 17 points in Saturday's conference opener (photo by Carmen Santiago). |
SAN ANTONIO — Sophomore Whitney York scored a game-high 17 points to lead the UTSA women’s basketball team to a 68-61 win against McNeese State in both teams Southland Conference opener.
“This was a great win for us, especially winning at home,” head coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair said. “We took care of business, despite struggling from the free throw line today. Judy provided that spark off the bench today and Whitney was solid. Both of them were able to create their own shots and put pressure on McNeese’s defense.”
The Roadrunners snapped their two-game skid and even their season record to 7-7 and collect their first conference win, while the Cowgirls dropped to 4-10 and 0-1 in league action.
York was 6-of-11 from the floor, dished out game-best five assists and matched her career-high with five thefts. The Bryan native recorded her 10th game in double figures and led them in scoring for the fifth time this season. Freshman Judy Jones, who reached double figures for the second straight game, added 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting performance from the floor, junior Ashleigh Franklin held game-high honors with 12 rebounds and chipped in with nine.
UTSA forced 21 McNesse turnovers – 10 via steals – into 21 points.
Kendra Wells led McNesse State with 15 points and Kiara Johnson and Ja’NaNique Kendrix added 10 apiece.
McNeese State cut UTSA’s deficit 44-37 with 14:38 to go in the game. A pair of freebies from Jones increased the Roadrunners lead to 11 (50-39) three minutes later. Candace LaCombe’s 3-pointer from the right corner made it a nine-point game (59-50) with seven minutes and change remaining.
York, who was 3-for-6 in the second half, connected on back-to-back lay ups that gave the Runners their largest lead of the game at 63-50 with 4:19 to go. The Cowgirls put together a late 11-3 run, but time ran out and UTSA held on for the seven-point win.
The duo of junior Amber Gregg and York combined for 10 of UTSA’s first 13 points to give the Roadrunners a 13-9 lead at the 15-minute mark of the first half.
Wells’ jumper from the free throw line tied the game at 13-all with 13:02 to go. The Runners reeled off seven straight points to push their margin to 20-13 over the next two minutes.
York was successful on a free throw that gave UTSA a double-digit advantage (36-26) with under a minute to play, but a LaCombe’s lay up and Lauren Nutter’s three-ball made it a 36-31 score at the break.
UTSA makes it first trip to Louisiana for a conference matchup at Nicholls on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Tip off is slated for 6:30 p.m.
“This was a great win for us, especially winning at home,” head coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair said. “We took care of business, despite struggling from the free throw line today. Judy provided that spark off the bench today and Whitney was solid. Both of them were able to create their own shots and put pressure on McNeese’s defense.”
The Roadrunners snapped their two-game skid and even their season record to 7-7 and collect their first conference win, while the Cowgirls dropped to 4-10 and 0-1 in league action.
York was 6-of-11 from the floor, dished out game-best five assists and matched her career-high with five thefts. The Bryan native recorded her 10th game in double figures and led them in scoring for the fifth time this season. Freshman Judy Jones, who reached double figures for the second straight game, added 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting performance from the floor, junior Ashleigh Franklin held game-high honors with 12 rebounds and chipped in with nine.
UTSA forced 21 McNesse turnovers – 10 via steals – into 21 points.
Kendra Wells led McNesse State with 15 points and Kiara Johnson and Ja’NaNique Kendrix added 10 apiece.
McNeese State cut UTSA’s deficit 44-37 with 14:38 to go in the game. A pair of freebies from Jones increased the Roadrunners lead to 11 (50-39) three minutes later. Candace LaCombe’s 3-pointer from the right corner made it a nine-point game (59-50) with seven minutes and change remaining.
York, who was 3-for-6 in the second half, connected on back-to-back lay ups that gave the Runners their largest lead of the game at 63-50 with 4:19 to go. The Cowgirls put together a late 11-3 run, but time ran out and UTSA held on for the seven-point win.
The duo of junior Amber Gregg and York combined for 10 of UTSA’s first 13 points to give the Roadrunners a 13-9 lead at the 15-minute mark of the first half.
Wells’ jumper from the free throw line tied the game at 13-all with 13:02 to go. The Runners reeled off seven straight points to push their margin to 20-13 over the next two minutes.
York was successful on a free throw that gave UTSA a double-digit advantage (36-26) with under a minute to play, but a LaCombe’s lay up and Lauren Nutter’s three-ball made it a 36-31 score at the break.
UTSA makes it first trip to Louisiana for a conference matchup at Nicholls on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Tip off is slated for 6:30 p.m.