SAN ANTONIO — UTSA was downed by South Dakota, 76-69, on Sunday afternoon in the Holiday Classic opener, which sent the Roadrunners to their fifth consecutive loss.
Freshman Crystal Chidomere paced UTSA (4-7) with a career-high 14 points on 7-of-19 shooting from the field. The Richmond native also dished out a career-best four assists to go along with a pair of rebounds.
Meanwhile, Akunna Elonu notched her second career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds and Kamra King chipped in with 10 points.
The Roadrunners shot 34 percent (26-of-77) for the game and committed the fewest turnovers this season with 10, despite the setback.
South Dakota (10-2) fired at 50 percent (29-of-57) from the field in extending its winning streak to eight, but the Coyotes were held to less than 80 points for only the third time this season.
South Dakota, which owns the fifth-best free throw shooting percentage in the nation, shot 72 percent (13-of-18) from the charity stripe. All five starters scored in double figures with Margaret McCloud and Nicole Seekamp each netting 16 points.
UTSA trailed 7-2 through the opening four minutes, but it made up the deficit and came within one at the 12:58 mark on a, Elonu layup.
Ashley Spaletta gave the Roadrunners their first lead of the day at the 12:14 mark after draining a 3-pointer from the right side of the key. The score was tied two more times before the Coyotes pulled away for a 37-32 halftme advantage
South Dakota’s momentum continued on in the second half, as it opened the second 20 minutes with a 7-0 run.
UTSA will close out tournament play at 2:30 p.m. on Monday against SIU Edwardsville (5-7), which fell to Chattanooga by a score of 59-49 in event's opening contest.