BOCA RATON, Fla. — Crystal Chidomere and Tesha Smith had the hot hand for UTSA and they led the Roadrunners to a 72-62 victory at Florida Atlantic on Thursday night.
Chidomere poured in a career high 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting, also a career mark, and tacked on six rebounds with three assists and a pair of steals. Meanwhile, Smith registered her third double-double of the season on 20 points and 10 rebounds and added a career best five steals. Kasia Kiejdrowska added 14 points for UTSA as she made the Roadrunners only two 3-point field goals.
UTSA now improves to 7-8 on the season and to 3-1 in Conference USA while Florida Atlantic drops to 4-11 and 0-4 in the league.
The Roadrunners was hot and cold throughout the opening half against the Owls despite a 35-32 advantage at the half.
UTSA started off strong as they scored seven unanswered before the Owls could get on the board. The Roadrunners maintained its lead through the first 10 minutes of action but faltered in the following quarter.
Florida Atlantic switched gears and went on a 9-2 run to start the second quarter and took a 23-19 lead over UTSA with 7:50 remaining on the clock. The Roadrunners then responded with a 10-0 run that saw Smith score the first six points of that run that held through the remaining three minutes of the frame.
After leading UTSA with 12 points in the first half, the hot hand of Chidomere continued into the third quarter as she poured in nine points to surpass her previous career high mark. She had four of UTSA's five field goals and helped the Roadrunners to a 50-46 lead through the third quarter.
The Owls managed to come within two with 2:30 on the clock but found themselves down by 14 in the fourth quarter at the 3:18 mark, 67-54, which was the Roadrunners largest lead of the game.
UTSA shot 48 percent for the game and was 12-of-17 from the free throw line. The Owls were hot from 3-point range as FAU became the third team this season to reach double-digit triples as they went 10-of-25.
The Roadrunners will conclude its Florida road swing on Saturday when they visit FIU for a 1 p.m. contest.
