Roberts scores career high 40 points in Lady Texan loss

South Plains trailed by only three points at halftime, 42-39.

After scoring 22 first half points, Roberts eclipsed her season high of 28 points with a couple of free throws 5-minutes into the second half. She would go on to finish with a career high 40 points, making 12-of-21 shots from the field including 4-of-9 3-point field goals. Roberts also connected on 12-of-13 free throw attempts and dished out six assists in nearly 36-minutes of playing time.

Most of the opening 20-minutes of the contest turned out to be a very close game. There was one stretch in which Pima led by nine points, but the Lady Texans quickly narrowed it back down and went to the locker room down three after Roberts rebounded her own missed shot and put it back as the clock wound down.

South Plains again made a run when they were down by 11 points with 13:52 remaining. Roberts began a 10-1 run when she converted a three-point play after being fouled after driving hard inside the paint and making the shot. The run would again get South Plains to within two points, 62-60.

That is as close as the SPC women would get, however, as Pima went on to outscore the Lady Texans badly for the remainder of the game to earn the victory and send South Plains to their third consecutive loss.

Rebounding played a vital role in the outcome as the Lady Texans were outrebounded 53-30 including 25-10 on the offensive end. The extra offensive boards for Pima helped lead to an extra 14 field goal attempts for the 2011 NJCAA Division II runner-ups.

Making 4-of-9 shots apiece, Stephanie Moore and Shea Myatt finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Moore was a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

Upon their return, the Lady Texans (3-13) will begin preparing for their Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) opener Monday, January 16 at Midland College (11-4). Game time is scheduled for 5:45 p.m.

South Plains College (3-13)
Raely Parada 0-4 0-0 0, Avril Matthews 0-0 1-2 1, Ashley Roberts 12-21 12-13 40, Jazzmin Hill 0-4 2-3 2, Lakeeyscia Griffin 0-0 0-0 0, Kayla Turner 2-3 0-0 6, Shea Myatt 4-9 0-0 10,Tyeisha Mitchell 0-2 2-3 2, Sydney Hearn 1-4 2-3 4, Stephanie Moore 4-9 3-3 11. Totals 23-56 22-27 76

Pima (11-5)
Ashlei Scott 3-4 1-2 7, Alyssa Wilson 0-3 0-0 0, DJ Davis 2-6 2-4 8, Ebonee Rhymes 1-4 0-0 2, Alyssa Roche 4-5 4-5 16, Kellie Miller 1-5 0-0 3, Naderra Carey 3-12 11-14 17, Briaunna Guthrie 2-4 1-1 6, A'jha Edwards 7-10 1-1 15, Tyahnna Higgs 6-13 2-4 15, Paige Shirley 0-0 0-0 0, Mya Donovan 1-4 2-2 4. Totals 30-70 24-33 93

FG%: South Plains College .411, Pima .429. 3-pt FG:South Plains College 8-18 (Parada 0-2, Roberts 4-9, Turner 2-3, Myatt 2-4), Pima 9-16 (Wilson 0-2, Davis 2-4, Roche 4-4, Miller 1-3, Guthrie 1-2, Higgs 1-1). Rebounds: South Plains College 30 (Moore 7), Pima 53 (Carey 12). Fouls South Plains College 23, Pima 20. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: South Plains College 14 (Roberts 6), Pima 19 (Carey 11). Steals: South Plains College 13 (Myatt 6), Pima 12 (Carey 6). Blocked shots: South Plains College 1 (Moore 1), Pima 4 (Edwards 2). Turnovers: South Plains College 25, Pima 21.