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| Sophomore Whitney York posted her fifth 20-point game of the season on Saturday (photo courtesy of Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News). |
SAN ANTONIO — Sophomore Whitney York posted her fifth 20-point game of the season, but Lamar had four players score in double digits and the Lady Cardinals held on for a 66-63 win against UTSA on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
“Our kids played with a lot of heart, but some things didn’t go our way today,” head coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair said. "We went with a big line up at the end of the game and thought we did a good job rebounding the ball, but we need to knock down some key baskets and that's something that we cannot let it happen again. Whitney was incredible today. She has been awesome the entire season. She did it again for us and has done everything we've asked.”
The Roadrunners saw their record fall to 15-12 on the season and 9-5 in conference play, while Lamar improved to 22-6 overall and 12-2 in league play.
York, who has played in 130 consecutive minutes over a three-game stretch, finished the day with a game-high 20 points on 8-for-15 from the floor, dished out a career-high eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds on the day. The Bryan native also led the team with a personnel-best six steals, as the Runners produced 11 thefts. Juniors Ashleigh Franklin and Amber Gregg joined York in double figures with 17 and 13 points, respectively. Franklin matched York with seven boards on the day.
Jenna Plumley registered a team-high 16 points on the strength of four 3-pointers, while Darika Hill and Kalis Loyd chipped in with 15 and 14 apiece. Britney Williams contributed with 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Lamar held a 42-32 rebounding advantage that led to 36 points in the paint.
Lamar jumped out to an eight-point lead at 50-42 on Ang Green’s layup with 13:04 to go in the second half. UTSA chipped away at the Lady Cardinals' margin with the help of a 14-6 run over a seven-minute span to tie the game at 58-58. Gregg and York highlighted the spurt with back-to-back three-balls.
Plumley’s jumper put LU on top, but York came right back with her own jumper a minute and 23 seconds later to make it a 58-58 game with 5:03 remaining. Franklin gave the Roadrunners their first lead of the frame on a made free throw at the 4-minute mark. However, a Trashanna Smith and Darika Hill jumpers and a Williams’ freebie sandwiched in between put Lamar up 63-59 with 43 seconds showing on the clock and would hold for the win.
The Lady Cardinals logged in their largest lead of the game at 35-24 on a made layup by Lody with 2:39 to play in the first half. Gregg and York combined for the next six Roadrunners points to make it a 35-30 game, but LU took the 40-32 advantage into the locker room.
UTSA hits the road for the I-35 rival showdown at Texas State on Wednesday, March 3. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.