HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — UTSA played its closest game of the season and came within two points with 3.8 seconds on the clock, but it was the home team that prevailed with Marshall earning a 80-76 victory Saturday afternoon at Cam Henderson Center.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Kasia Kiejdrowska registered her second consecutive 20-plus point effort scoring a season-best 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including 6-of-12 from behind the arc.
Meanwhile, Akunna Elonu was two rebounds shy of recording a double-double with 13 points and eight boards but did crack into the UTSA all-time record books in rebounds and sits ninth all-time with 545.
Crystal Chidomere also chipped in with a double-digit performance netting 14 points with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
The Roadrunners (7-4, 3-8 C-USA) quick start Saturday would come to an eventual end after starting 8-0 before Marshall was on the board. The Thundering Herd (16-6, 6-5 C-USA) slowly made up the deficit, using a 13-4 run to tie the score at 15 to end the first.
Marshall carried its momentum into the second quarter and held a lead through much of the stanza, but the Roadrunners managed to slow the home team down after the score flipped six times and tied once at the 1:42 mark. Each team exchanged baskets in the final minutes and UTSA headed to the locker rooms trailing 36-35.
UTSA led for the first two minutes of the third quarter but was upended and Marshall never looked back. The Herd have now won three consecutive games this season and were a perfect 18-of-18 from the charity stripe.
UTSA will return to the Alamo City and host Florida Atlantic on Feb. 11 and FIU on Feb. 13.