SAN ANTONIO — Three Roadrunners scored in double figures to snap UTSA’s five-game losing skid with a 75-60 victory against SIU Edwardsville on Monday afternoon in the final game of the UTSA Holiday Classic.
Tesha Smith netted a season-best 17 points off the bench to pace the Roadrunners on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting and she also picked up her sixth career double-double with 10 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Ashley Spaletta scored 16 points to go along with five assists, three steals and a pair of blocks. The Magnolia, Ark., native was 4-of-7 from the field and 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.
Freshman Crystal Chidomere surpassed her previous season best in points with 13 points and she also grabbed four rebounds.
UTSA (5-7) notched its highest scoring game this season. The Birds had their best shooting percentage in any half this season in the opening stanza at 54 percent (13-of-24). The Roadrunners were slow to begin, but they picked up the pace after regaining the lead on a pair of Spaletta free throws at the 13:12 mark.
All nine players to step foot on the court for UTSA in the first half scored and they were led by Spaletta’s nine points. The Roadrunners closed the opening 20 minutes with a 9-2 run and they took a 38-24 advantage into the locker room.
SIU Edwardsville (5-8) cut the halftime lead in half after intermission, but UTSA was able to break the momentum and it extended its lead to as many as 20 with 1:52 to play.
Coco Moore led the Cougars with 15 points, while Tierny Austin added 13.
UTSA will be back in action on at 7 p.m. on Friday when it opens Conference USA play against Rice (5-5).