SAN ANTONIO — The UTSA women's basketball team will open its 2016-17 campaign with the No. 24 Angelo State Belles on Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners head into the season opener with a pair of exhibition contests under their belts. UTSA squared off with Texas A&M International and Trinity and posted wins by scores of 75-34 and 91-67.
In those games, head women's coach Lubomyr Lichonczak started a pair of freshmen in Timea Toth and Marie Benson along with returning letter winners Carlie Heineman and Kasia Kiejdrowska and transfer Loryn Goodwin. Goodwin sat out last season due to the NCAA transfer rule and netted 13 points in her first unofficial game as a Roadrunner.
UTSA will have a busy opening week as the Roadrunners are scheduled to play three games in six days with one on the road. Two days after opening with Division II Angelo State, the Roadrunners will hit the road to take on UT Arlington on Sunday, Nov. 13, and then return to host Division II Texas A&M-Kingsville on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Angelo State heads to the Alamo City after posting a 24-8 overall record in 2015-16. The Belles won its conference tournament to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, its ninth in program history and first appearance since the 2007-08 season. Angelo State was bounced out of the tournament in the semifinals of the South Regional with a loss to Lubbock Christian.
Junior Jasmine Prophet was named the league's Player of the Year after averaging 14.2 points per game and a team second-best 6.4 rebounds per game. Prophet shot 49.2 percent (164-of-333) from the field and 74 percent (111-of-150) from the charity stripe. She also looks to defend her title as she was named the LSC Preseason Player of the Year.
Also returning to the Belles lineup is leading scorer Taylor Dorsey who put up 16.7 points per game and added 6.2 boards per game. Dorsey also paced the team with 120 assists and was second with 41 steals.
Kevin Baker leads the No. 24 Belles in his second season after being named the LSC Coach of the Year in 2015-16. Angleo State returns seven players and four starters from last season's squad.
