SAN ANTONIO — UTSA shot a season-high 55.8 percent, including 61.9percent in the second half, to defeat William & Mary, 76-50, and claim theUTSA Thanksgiving Classic title on Sunday evening at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners, who improved to 5-1 on the season, went24-for-43 from the field to record their best shooting performance since a 58.7percent (27-for-46) effort against Sam Houston State on Jan. 29, 2011.
Sophomore Kamra King led all scorers with 18 points andwas named to the all-tournament team, while seniors Lyndi Thorman and WhitneyWright added 11 points each. Thorman joined King on the all-tournament teamafter she went 4-for-4 from the field and added a pair of rebounds.
Meanwhile, Taylor Hilton paced the Tribe (2-4) with 13points, eight of which came at the free-throw line.
Jaclyn McKenna put William & Mary on the board firstwith a layup to give the visitors their only lead of the game, 2-0.
Wright answered with the first of her four baskets andthe teams went on to produce four ties, including a 12-12 score with 11:17 leftin the half.
A pair of free throws by freshman Akunna Elonu started a10-0 run that gave the Roadrunners the lead for good. Thorman followed with herfirst 3-pointer of the season and a pair of jumpers that were sandwiched aroundanother Elonu freebie to give the Birds a 22-12 advantage.
William & Mary scored the next five points beforesophomore Ashley Spaletta hit back-to-back 3-pointers to reclaim thedouble-digit advantage, 28-17.
However, the Tribe again threatened with an 8-0 spurtthat was cut short by a basket from senior Cori Cooper and UTSA outscoredWilliam & Mary 9-3 over the final four minutes of the half for a 37-28 leadat halftime.
The Roadrunners lead ballooned to 23 with a 16-2 run inthe first four minutes of the second half.
Senior Jalisa Montgomery scored inside for two of UTSA's24 points in the paint to start the run. King then added a pair of 3-pointers,while Wright collected four points in the stretch.
During that time, the Tribe went 0-for-4 with a pair ofturnovers and the lead would not dip below 16 points the rest of the way.
The UTSA defense did its part by holding William &Mary to just four baskets in the final 20 minutes. The Tribe shot just 14.3percent and relied on 14 free throws for their 22 points.
A 3-pointer by Jenny Menz and two free throws from CoriCooper put the finishing touches on the 76-50 victory.
In addition to their 24 points in the paint, theRoadrunners scored 21 points off of 15 William & Mary turnovers and held a36-24 advantage on the glass.
UTSA will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday when it facesHouston (2-4) at Hofheinz Pavilion.
UTSA Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team
Janine Aldridge, William & Mary
Taylor Hilton, William & Mary
Kamra King, UTSA
Nicole Olszewski, Austin Peay
Lyndi Thorman, UTSA