Second half surge by Tulane sends Roadrunners to fifth consecutive loss, 68-54Second half surge by Tulane sends Roadrunners to fifth consecutive loss, 68-54
Women's Basketball

Second half surge by Tulane sends Roadrunners to fifth consecutive loss, 68-54

SAN ANTONIO — Tulane used a 20-4 run to open the second half to overcome a 30-26 halftime deficit and send UTSA to its fifth straight loss, 68-54, on Saturday at the Convocation Center.

Kamra King had a game-high 15 points for UTSA (11-11, 2-7 C-USA) to lead three Roadrunners in double figures. Mannasha Bell added 12 while McKenzie Adams chipped in 10 on 5-of-8 shooting.

Courtnie Latham and Jamie Kaplan lead a balanced Tulane offensive attack with 14 points apiece. Leslie Vorpahl and Tiffany Dale added 12 points each and Chinwe Duru finished with 11 as the Green Wave shot 58.6 percent in the second half.

King led all scorers in the first half with an efficient nine points with a pair of 3-pointers including a deep three from the top of the key 52-seconds before halftime to give UTSA its biggest lead of the game, 28-24. After Duru converted a layup on the other end for Tulane on the next possession, UTSA freshman Alana Heard split a double team at the top of the key and cast a runner off the back of the rim and in just before the halftime buzzer to send the Roadrunners into the break with a 30-26 lead.

UTSA staunch defense couldn’t hold up in the second half without the services of senior point guard Miki Turner, out for the second straight game with an ankle injury, and sophomore forward Niaga Mitchell-Cole, who was lost for the season with a foot injury in Wednesday’s loss to FIU. The Green Wave used a 26-8 advantage on points in the paint to cruise in the second half.

The Roadrunners will kick off a two-game road trip on Wednesday at UAB (12-10, 4-5 C-USA). Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.