BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — UTSA fired away with 68 percent in the second half to surge past UAB on Saturday afternoon with an 82-67 victory at Bartow Arena.
After only shooting 37.1 percent in the first half and owning a 30-29 lead at the half, UTSA (11-10, 7-3 C-USA) cranked it up a few notches in the second. Tesha Smith scored 16 of her 20 points in the latter half, while Carlie Heineman drained half of her career-high six 3-pointers in the second.
The Roadrunners finished with four players in double figures with a game-high 20 points from Smith. Heineman's 18 points matched a career high and she added four rebounds and four assists. Loryn Goodwin chipped in with 16 and Marie Benson 11.
UAB, who was the 12th-ranked team in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, was held to just 27.8 percent from behind the arc. The Blazers made just two triples in the first half.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point for UTSA. The Roadrunners used a 12-2 run to lead 51-35 at the 4:39 mark and continued to hold strong. UTSA had its highest scoring stanza of the game in the third with 26 points, outscoring UAB by eight points.
UTSA held onto its double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and led by as many 18 twice. The first came at the 4:13 mark on a free throw by Smith and the second came with 26 ticks remaining on a layup by Goodwin.
The dominant win over UAB (11-11, 4-7 C-USA) didn't start off as easy. The Roadrunners jumped out to a 22-16 advantage after the opening quarter but had its lead cut down to one at the half.
After a nine-point lead on a 3-pointer by Goodwin, UAB chipped away at the deficit and eventually came within one at the 3:16 mark, 30-29. UTSA had the final two makes of the second quarter as a turnaround jumper by Benson and driving layup by Goodwin gave the Roadrunners a five-point cushion heading into the half, 34-29. The Blazers were scoreless the last 3:16.
UTSA will wrap up its four-game road swing next week when it travels to Southern Miss for a 6 p.m. matchup on Thursday, Feb. 9, and Louisiana Tech for a 1 p.m. tilt two days later.
