| Junior Ashleigh Franklin led UTSA with 18 points and eight rebounds on Saturday. |
BEAUMONT — Junior Ashleigh Franklin and freshman Judy Jones posted 18 and 16 points, respectively, but Lamar had three players reach double digits to post the 69-60 win against UTSA in Southland Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Montagne Center.
The Roadrunners dropped to 10-9 on the season and 4-2 in conference play, while the Lady Cardinals improved to 17-4 on the season and 7-0 in league action.
Franklin paced the Runners with team-high honors of 18 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Jones posted her seventh straight double figure game with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. The Monroe, La., native also matched Franklin with eight boards and dished out a game-best seven assists.
The Lady Cardinals were led by Trashanne Smith’s 22 points and a dozen rebounds. Jenna Plumley and Kalis Loyd chipped in with 18 and 17, respectively.
UTSA posted its largest lead of the game 36-30 on senior Valencia Cottom’s turnaround jumper with 17:11 to play in the second half. Lamar took control of the game with a 35-10 run over a 13-minute span to post the largest lead of the game at 65-46 with 4:01 remaining.
The Roadrunners mounted one last rally with a 14-1 run to get within six points (66-60), but time was not on their side as Lady Cardinals held on for the win. Franklin and Jones each netted seven points apiece during that stretch.
Lamar jumped to the 7-2 lead on Darika Hill’s basket with 14:16 to go in the first. However, UTSA overcame a 2-for-15 shooting performance in the first nine minutes of the frame to grab its first lead at 11-9 on Jones’ short jumper.
Plumley responded with a long 3-pointer to put the Lady Cardinals up one (12-11), but freshman Jermini Malone answered with a three-ball of her own to make a 14-11 Roadrunners advantage at the 8-minute mark. Trailing 19-17, junior Amber Gregg knocked down back-to-back treys from the right wing to give the Runners a 23-20 edge under five to play.
The Roadrunners took a 29-26 lead at the half.
UTSA opens the month of February with a divisional game against Sam Houston State Wednesday night at the Convocation Center. Tip off is schedule for 7 p.m.