| Freshman Judy Jones recorded her fourth double-double of the year in Wednesday night. |
SAN ANTONIO — Freshman Judy Jones collected her fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 23 points and team-best 10 rebounds to lead UTSA past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 58-37, in front of 1,082 fans in Southland Conference action at the Convocation Center Wednesday night.
The Roadrunners improved to 14-10 overall and 8-3 in conference play, while the Islanders fell to 16-8 on the year and 8-3 in the league. With the Lamar loss earlier tonight, UTSA sits one-game back in the West Division standings.
Junior Ashleigh Franklin joined Jones in double figures with 16 and snagged nine rebounds. Jones also added four assists on the night.
The Roadrunners’ defense held their ground holding the Islanders to season-lows in field goals made with 13, including five in the first half, and to 23.2 percent shooting from the floor. UTSA also forced 25 A&M-Corpus Christi turnovers – 14 via steals.
Elisa Beagle was the lone Islander to reach double digits with 13 points and hauled in a game-best 11 boards. Jade Davis, who had 24 points in the first meeting on Jan. 23, was shut down by UTSA’s defense. Davis only managed to collect eight points on 3-of-12 shooting from the floor.
UTSA scored the first eight of the 12 points of the second half en route to its largest lead of game at 23-point (40-17) with 12:21 left. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi chipped away on the Roadrunners margin to make it a 13-point game with a 13-2 run that stretched over a 4-minute span.
However, the Runners closed out the game on a 12-4 run in the final 4:16 to post their 21-point victory. Franklin highlighted the spurt scoring six of the 12 points.
The duo of Jones and sophomore Whitney York help put UTSA up 13-1 in the first seven minutes and 56 seconds of the first half and would not look back. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi opened the game with a dozen miscues and a 0-for-9 shooting performance from the floor.
Davis finally made the Islanders’ first field goal with 10:36 to play in the frame, which made the score 13-3. The Roadrunners ended the stanza with a 19-10 run for the 32-13 halftime advantage.
UTSA begins a two-game road trip at Sam Houston State on Saturday. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m. (please note time change).