SAN ANTONIO — UTSA battled back in the fourth quarter and brought the deficit down to one, but were outlasted by Tulane as the Roadrunners dropped a 75-66 decision Sunday afternoon in the final game of the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic.
Three Roadrunners reached double figures with Loryn Goodwin leading the pack with 16 points, to go along with six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Meanwhile, Kasia Kiejdrowska and Crystal Chidomere chipped in with 10 points each.
Kolby Morgan led Tulane (4-1), as she led a trio in double digits with 22 points.
Collectively, UTSA fired 32 percent (24-of-74) from the floor and was 12-of-15 from the free throw line. Three players were perfect from the line with Tesha Smith going a team-best 6-of-6. Smith scored six of her eight points from the charity stripe.
The Roadrunners, who registered a season-low 10 turnovers, were off to a 5-0 start in Sunday's matinee before Tulane quickly shut them down by responding with a 9-0 run of its own to lead 9-5 midway through the first quarter.
On the following two possessions, UTSA drained a pair of 3-pointers that put the Roadrunners back on top, 11-9, with 4:15 left to play. The lead would be short-lived as Tulane closed out the opening stanza on an 8-3 run to lead 18-14 after the first 10 minutes of action.
The Roadrunners were back on the heels of the Green Wave as they opened the second quarter with back-to-back scores by Chidomere and Goodwin to give UTSA a 19-18 lead. Two possessions later, Tulane drew the foul and went for three free throws that put the former Conference USA foe back on top, 21-19, with 8:00 remaining. The lead held the rest of the way as the Green Wave led 31-27 at the half.
Tulane led the entire third quarter but the Roadrunners kicked into gear in the fourth. The score bounced back and forth through the first 2:37 before a pair of free throws by Meredith Schulte kept the Green Wave on top the rest of the way.
UTSA will continue its four-game home stand on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. when it hosts Abilene Christian (3-2)
