Jan. 26, 2008

Final Stats

SAN MARCOS - Despite a 22-7 second-half rally and 25 points from Joyce Ekworomadu, Texas State could not overcome an early deficit as the Bobcats (11-8. 5-1 SLC) dropped their first Southland Conference game of the 2007-08 season with an 81-68 loss to UTSA (12-6, 4-1 SLC) in the IBC Maroon vs. Orange I-35 Rivalry Series on Saturday.

The loss was the first of the season to an SLC foe for the Bobcats and also snapped a four-game winning streak over UTSA dating back to 2005.

Texas State jumped out to a 6-0 lead to open the game's first two minutes, but the Roadrunners' Terrie Davis engineered a 21-4 run with four three-pointers to give UTSA a 21-10 lead with 11:41 left in the first half.

The Bobcats pulled back within seven multiple times for the rest of the half, but another 11-2 Roadrunner run over the half's final 3:33 gave UTSA a 43-24 cushion heading to the locker room.

Down 52-28 three minutes into the second half after a 6-0 UTSA run, the `Cats fought back over the next seven minutes when Preseason All-SLC Second Team pick Monica Gibbs picked up her fourth person foul and pulled within 59-50 on a Brooke DeGrate three with 9:52 to play.

UTSA scored on the next possession to push the lead back to double-digits and kept that cushion until another DeGrate three and a free throw by Victoria Davis with 2:14 left made it another nine point game at 73-64.

After a UTSA turnover, Texas State looked ready to pull within seven, but DeGrate missed both free throws with 1:43 to play. Jordan Stark then put the game away two possessions later with a three pointer off a UTSA offensive rebound that put UTSA up 14 with only 51 seconds left.

Ekworomadu's 25 points were a game high and also extended her streak of games with at 20 points to four. Davis also added 13 in the loss for the Bobcats, who shot only 31 percent in the first half and were out-rebounded 44-to-35 for the game.

Terrie Davis led UTSA with 23 points, including all seven of her made field goals coming on three pointers, while Onika Anderson added 20 points and tied a Roadrunner record for rebounding against a conference opponent with 19.

Texas State continues a four-game home stand with a pair of special events next week. The Bobcats host Stephen F. Austin on Jan. 31 on Fox Sports Southwest, marking the first televised women's basketball game ever in Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats' following game on Feb. 2 against Sam Houston State will also be part of a doubleheader with the men's team and the Stuff Strahan event.