SAN MARCOS — The UTSA women’s basketball team used a 17-1 run over the final three minutes to erase a 10-point deficit and the Roadrunners picked up a thrilling 69-63 victory at I-35 rival Texas State on Saturday.
Senior Ashleigh Franklin scored 20 points to pace UTSA, which improved to 8-10 overall and 4-1 in Southland Conference play in winning its fourth game in a row and fifth straight against the Bobcats. Meanwhile, junior Ashley Gardner recorded her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Demi Clinch paced Texas State (5-12, 0-4 SLC) with 20 points.
Franklin put the Roadrunners on the board first with a layup, but a Clinch 3-pointer saw UTSA face its first deficit in 120 minutes of action.
The Bobcats extended their lead seven on jumper by Anna Brzozowski, but the Roadrunners responded with seven consecuitve points on baskets by Franklin, senior Amber Gregg and sophomore Lyndi Thorman and that tied the game at 11.
Neither squad led by more than four points the rest of the half.
A pair of free throws gave UTSA its largest advantage of the stanza, 19-16, but a 3-pointer by Stephanie Douthit tied the game and, minutes later, the Bobcats took their largest lead of the half, 30-26, on a free throw by Diamond Ford.
Both teams scored in the final 40 seconds of the frame and Texas State took a 32-28 advantage into the locker room.
The Bobcats opened the second half with an 11-3 run to push their lead to a dozen, a stretch that was capped by a running 15-foot jumper from Ford.
UTSA responded with a 13-3 run of its own to trim the deficit to two (46-44) with 10:34 to play. A Gardner jumper was sandwiched between four free throws by Franklin and baskets by the pair and two Gregg free throws capped the stretch.
However, Texas State extended the lead once again, this time outscoring the Roadrunners 11-4 during a four-minute span to take a 62-52 lead with 3:41 to play.
However, that’s when UTSA turned up the defensive pressure.
The Bobcats couldn’t handle the Birds' full-court press and sophomore Jermini Malone recorded three consecutive steals, which led to six consecutive free throws in 10 seconds, and that trimmed the deficit to four (62-58).
Malone followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the key, which was followed by another three-ball by senior Alysse Davis, to complete the comeback and give UTSA the lead for good.
Chika Ofoegbu hit a free throw with four seconds to play, but it was too little, too late for the Bobcats. A pair of Franklin freebies iced the six-point come-from-behind triumph.
UTSA forced 21 turnovers for the game and turned those mistakes into 20 points.
The Roadrunners will return home for a West Division matchup with Sam Houston State (11-8, 5-0 SLC) on Saturday, Jan. 29. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
