The Shorthorn - Women's basketball advances to second round of SLC tourney

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Women's basketball advances to second round of SLC tourney

Written by Clint Utley, The Shorthorn sports editor

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 11:23 PM

The Mavericks coaching staff celebrates a made three point shot during the second half of their victory over UT-San Antonio on Tuesday in Katy. (The Shorthorn: Andrew Buckley)

KATY, TEXAS -- The women’s basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament with a 68-63 victory over UT San Antonio on Wednesday night at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.

The Mavericks held the Roadrunners to 29.9 percent shooting from the floor and converted 41.9 percent of their field goal attempts. UTSA shot 25 percent from 3-point range compared to 35.7 percent from the Mavs.

After building an 11-point lead with 8:15 to play in the second half, the Mavs allowed UTSA to come to within one point, 60-59, with 2:48 left in the game.

The Mavs scored five straight points over the next 1:32 to extend their lead to 65-59.

Head coach Samantha Morrow said she was proud of her team’s resiliency to withstand UTSA’s comeback attempt.

“Conference champions, won this tournament last year, UTSA did,” Morrow said. “And did real good in the NCAA tournament. To beat a quality team like that, the four seed, it’s really good for us.”

Morrow said she was impressed with her team not giving up that lead.

“There were a few games this year where we let it slip away at the end,” she said. “I’m real proud of the way we knocked down some free throws and did some good things at the end of the game.”

UT Arlington shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half. Junior guard Tamara Simmons scored 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting in the first 20 minutes.

Morrow attributed the team’s hot start to good energy and communication.

“They knew we had to bring that today,” she said. “If you don’t have that, if you don’t have that fire burning in your stomach, then you’re not going to win those games.”

Junior forward Shalyn Martin, who played the whole game, had 10 points and 11 rebounds in the first 20 minutes. Martin said beating UTSA in the conference tournament was on many of the players’ minds.

Nelson went to the foul line six times in the final three minutes of the game. She went 13-of-17 from the stripe on the night.

“My mindest was pretty much just stay calm,” Nelson said of being on the line so often. “And just go up and approach each free throw like the last. And just try to come out and hit it.”

The Mavericks will face the No. 1 seed Lamar Cardinals at 2:33 p.m. on Thursday in Katy, Texas.

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