Lady Demons Sink Pine Bluff
Northwestern State 83, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 70
PINE BLUFF, Ark. - The onslaught of offense Northwestern State showcased in its win over Arkansas-Monticello last Friday carried over to Monday's game at Arkansas-Pine Bluff as the Lady Demons sank a school record-tying 14 three-pointers in an 83-70 win.
The game was the final tune-up for the Lady Demons (8-5) before they begin Southland Conference play at home on Saturday against Nicholls. UAPB falls to 2-10 on the year.
One game after connecting on a season-best from both the field and 3-point range, NSU topped that by sinking 56 percent from the field and 64 percent of its shots from long range - both season bests.
"I said this same thing last game," said head coach Jennifer Graf. "If I knew how we're doing what we're doing, we'd be doing it every game. "We do have a lot more confidence in ourselves. The girls are rallying around each other and not letting the frustration sink in when things aren't going right."
Three Lady Demons scored in double figures, led by Jessica McPhail's career-high 23 points to go along with 10 rebounds. McPhail drained 7 of 13 from the field, including 5 of 6 from behind the 3-point arc.
Brooke Shepherd added 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting (4 of 6 from long range) and Demetria White added 11 points.
"Jessica and Brooke did a great job tonight," said Graf. "Hopefully they shot themselves out of their slumps."
McPhail's double-double was the first of the season for the sophomore forward.
"I was so happy to see that for Jess," said Graf. "She's a very competitive player that gets frustrated when things are going right. But she knows to move on to the next play and not let the frustration build and that showed tonight."
Lyndzee Greene hit the record-tying trey with 3:14 to play in the game, capping off a 12-0 run. The shot tied the record set at Jackson State on Dec. 20 last season.
NSU led by as many as 20 points in the second half at 64-44 with just over nine minutes to play. The Lady Lions put together an 18-1 run over the next three and a half minutes to cut the Lady Demon lead to 65-62 with 5:44 to play.
The Lady Demon responded with a 12-0 run over the next 2:30 to put the game away.
UTSA 63, Tulsa 54
SAN ANTONIO, Texas ? Sophomore guard Amber Gregg drained six of UTSA’s school-record 13 3-pointers in scoring a career-high 25 points and the Roadrunners extended their winning streak to five games with a 63-54 win against Tulsa on Monday night at the Convocation Center.
Gregg matched her career-best with six 3-pointers, as the Roadrunners (7-7) eclipsed the previous school standard of 12 posted against Buffalo on Dec. 30, 2005. The Austin native went 6-for-11 from downtown and also collected four thefts, as the Runners totaled 12 steals on the night.
Senior guard Monica Gibbs added 12 points to along with seven rebounds, as she eclipsed 800 career boards. Meanwhile, senior forward Ryba Pawlaczyk and junior Alysse Davis chipped in with 11 and nine points, respectively.
“This was a great win for our program and beating two teams from Conference USA in the past three days is a confidence builder as we head into conference play,” head coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair said. “We have been playing well and shooting the ball well, especially from the 3-point line, over the past five games. Tonight we did an excellent job from downtown, especially Alysse and Amber. Amber has been one of our most consistent players this season on both sides of the ball”
The Golden Hurricane (4-9) were led by Larissa Williams’ 18 points, while Chanel Johnson hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds.
Tulsa opened the second half on an 8-2 run to retake the lead, 39-34, within the first three minutes. UTSA responded with three straight treys and took a two-point advantage with 13 minutes to play.
However, the Golden Hurricane answered with four quick points a minute later, but Davis’ second three ball of the half gave the Roadrunners the lead back at 48-47. Meoshi Bradley’s 3-pointer from the wing tied the game at 50-50 with 7:24 left.
UTSA took control from there, closing the game on a 13-4 run to collect its fifth win of the season.
The first half saw six ties and five lead changes, as neither team led by more than five points.
UTSA grabbed an early 15-11 lead on a Gibbs’ layup with 13:03 to go in the first half. Tulsa knotted the game at 15-all two minutes later and then took a 21-18 lead behind a 6-0 run. Sophomore guard Cierra Martin answered with a three-ball from the right wing with just under nine minutes to go in the half.
Gregg netted nine straight points for the Runners to give them the 30-28 advantage. A Bell jumper from the left elbow made the score 30-30 with 3:47 to go and Gibbs gave UTSA a one-point (32-31) advantage at the half on a layup at the 1:47 mark.
UTSA hits the road for its Southland Conference opener at McNeese State on Saturday, Jan. 10. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.