vs.

TALKING POINTS:

• Keys for UTSA-The Road Runners are making their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance following their first ever Southland Conference Title. However, this is not their first taste of success. They appeared each of the last three years in the Southland Conference tournament final before breaking through this season. This team also posted a school record 23 wins and the second twenty win season under head coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair.

  First team all conference junior guard Monica Gibbs is the key cog in the UTSA lineup. She is the schools all-time leader in assists, second leading rebounder, and third leading scorer. Every UTSA bucket will either be created by Gibbs or scored by Gibbs. Onika Anderson has been the primary beneficiary of the playmaking ability of Monica Gibbs. Anderson made second team all-conference this season as the leading scorer and rebounder for Road Runners. Whitney York is another interesting piece for UTSA. Last season she led Bryan High to the Regional Final, falling to eventual state champion Rockwall, after transferring to Bryan from Huntsville. Out of high school she wanted to play for Coach Blair at A&M but chose to sign with UTSA in the end. Watch for her to play with a little motivation against the hometown team.

• Keys for A&M -

  For some second seeded teams, keys to victory include getting off the base and not oversleeping. This probably isn’t the case for Texas A&M. Facing an in-state school like UTSA and playing against girls many of our players played against in high school could create and interesting dynamic in this game. Both teams should come out highly motivated. It is important for the Aggies to come out and have a great start. If the Aggies can put away the Road Runners early in the ball game this could turn into a rout. However, if A&M allows UTSA to stay in the game the Road Runners will gain confidence and the Aggies will be ripe for the upset.

  Defense is going to be the name of the game in this contest and every contest for the rest of the season. Lucky for the ladies from Aggieland, they have superior athletes, talent, and coaching. There are variety of players that will match up with Gibbs are will be charged with keeping her out of the lane. You will see Franklin, Gant, Starks, Colson, and Atunrase defend Gibbs throughout the game. A bevy of fresh bodies should wear Gibbs down. That leaves York to do the creating. Franklin should defend her most of the game and she is way to physical for York to stay with her for 40 minutes.

• Prediction -

  Look for the Aggies to win big. They are tired of listening to people say they don’t deserve a second seed. A&M should jump out to a big lead and coast to victory. Even if the game does stay close for a half, A&M’s guards are too big, too experienced, and too physical for UTSA to keep up. Offensively watch out for Danielle Gant. There isn’t a single Road Runner that can effectively defend Gant. She should have at least 20 (if she plays enough minutes). In summation, there isn’t a single Road Runner fast enough, tough enough, or strong enough to stay with the Aggies.