| Whitney York posted a game-high 23 points on Saturday. |
HAMMOND, La. — Sophomore Whitney York posted her three 20-point performance of the season with a game-high 23 points, while freshman Whitney Wright added 15 points off the bench to lead UTSA past Southeastern Louisiana, 61-49, in Southland Conference action Saturday at the University Center.
“Whitney Wright had a great game off the bench the today,” head Rae Rippetoe-Blair said. “She was huge for us making shots. It’s always good to see a freshman step up and contribute to the team. We also played excellent defense today, especially in the first half. I told our team yesterday in practice that we needed to win road games in order to compete for a conference championship and they responded today.”
The Roadrunners improved to 12-9 on the season and 6-2 in league action, while the Lady Lions fell to 9-13 overall and 3-6 in conference action.
York’s 23-point outing came on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and was near perfect from the free throw line going making 11 of her 12 attempts. Wright made the most of her 21 minutes of action with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor. Junior Ashleigh Franklin grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and dished out four assists.
The Runners made a season-high 89.5 percent from the free throw line on 17-of-19 and outscored the Lady Lions 28-16 in the paint area.
Zevy Ivory led Southeastern Louisiana with a team-best 21 points and matched Franklin with 10 boards.
Wright converted a three-point play to put UTSA up 26-21 with 16:55 left in the second half, but Southeastern Louisiana’s Kelli Jenkins knotted the game at 29-all with her 15-footer at the 11-minute mark.
The Roadrunners and Lady Lions traded baskets back and forth over the next four minutes, until the Runners increased their lead to 44-38 with seven quick points highlighted by sophomore Cierra Martin’s three-ball from the right corner with 7:51 remaining. Wright’s 3-pointer from the right corner upped UTSA’s lead to nine (51-42) with three minutes and change left on the clock.
However, Ivory’s second 3-pointer of the game made it a four-point game (53-49) with 1:36 showing on the clock, but the Roadrunners ice the game going 6-for-6 from the free throw line to hold on for the 12-point victory.
York opened up the game scoring seven of the first nine UTSA points to give the Roadrunners the early 9-5 advantage with 9:58 to play in the first half. Kasia Gawor connected on a 3-pointer from the top of the key to reclaim a 10-9 lead past the midway point of the frame.
York continued to carry the Runners offense with her 11th point of the stanza for the one-point edge (11-10) at the 5-minute mark. Franklin connected on a driving layup and a running one-hander that capped off an 8-6 run that gave UTSA the 19-16 halftime lead.
UTSA returns home for a conference matchup against Central Arkansas Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.