 "Photo: Brianna Cristiano / The Paisano")
One win away from her 200th victory, UTSA women's head coach, Rae Rippetoe-Blair, continues to combine youth with experience to create a winning formula.
Saturday's game marked the seventh straight win against Southland Conference rival Texas State. The Roadrunners' 67-53 victory came despite long scoring droughts at the start of the game.
The Roadrunners raced out to an 18-8 lead created by freshman guard Kamra King, senior forward Ashley Gardner and sophomore guard Judy Jones, who together scored 14 of the 18 points.
The Bobcats got back in the game by attacking the basket and holding an 11-4 advantage at the free-throw line. The Bobcat surge helped shrink the gap and, by the end of the first half, the score was 28-21, UTSA. The Roadrunners played tough team defense to hold the Bobcats to 4 of 26 shooting for a 15.4 percent field-goal percentage, a season low for a UTSA opponent.
Three-point shooting and field goals were virtually deadlocked between the two teams in the second half. A 9-1 advantage at the free-throw line and junior forward Cori Cooper's strong inside presence enabled UTSA to pull away and cement the win.
Cooper scored a season high 18 points and credited Blair's relentless drilling about defense. "That's what got us going again in the second half," Cooper said.
"It's the best we've played all year. Our defense has been pretty consistent. We took quick shots and our offense worked the drive," Blair added.
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