HOUSTON — UTSA overcame a late deficit in regulation to take the game into overtime, but the Roadrunners dropped a 49-48 heartbreaker at Rice on Sunday afternoon at Tudor Fieldhouse.
UTSA (4-8, 0-2 C-USA) had possession with seconds left in the fourth quarter and Crystal Chidomere came through with a layup to tie the game at 43 to take the game into extra time.
Scores from Chidomere and Mathilde Hergott put the Roadrunners on top, 48-45, with 1:57 left, but the Owls (2-11, 1-1 C-USA) answered back and held UTSA scoreless the rest of the way.
A free throw from Alyssa Lang and Maya Hawkins jumper tied the game again at 48, but Rice drew a foul that took Wendy Knight to the line and she made the first of two free throws to clinch the victory.
Both Hawkins and Knight scored in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Tesha Smith paced the Roadrunners with 12 points and she collected her fifth double-double of the year with 11 boards. Chidomere also concluded the day in double digits with 11 points to go along with five rebounds.
The Roadrunners shot just 28.6 percent (8-of-28) in the first half and were led by Chidomere and Smith’s four points.
After UTSA scored the opening three points, Rice used a 10-0 run to go in front, but Smith’s jumper at the 3:51 mark sparked the Roadrunners and they trailed by just two after the opening 10 minutes (15-13). UTSA scored eight of its 13 points in the final two minutes of the quarter.
The Roadrunners were held to their second-lowest total of the year with five points and headed to the locker room trailing, 21-18.
UTSA picked up the pace in the second half and Carlie Heineman drained a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter that put the Roadrunners within reach.
UTSA slowly made up the deficit in the fourth quarter that led to its first overtime game of the season.
The Roadrunners will head back to the Alamo City next week when they host UAB at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7.