SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA women's basketball team (3-16, 1-6 C-USA) dropped a 99-65 decision to Florida Atlantic (10-7, 4-2 C-USA) on Thursday night at the Convocation Center. Senior Crystal Chidomere led the Roadrunners with 20 points in the setback, while fellow classmate Carlie Heineman finished with 11 points and junior Marie Benson recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds.
A hot-shooting second half for the Owls paced FAU to a double-digit lead that UTSA was unable to recover from. Overall, FAU shot 53.1 percent from the floor and knocked down 22-of-30 from the line in their triumph.
Turning Points
The Owls came out of the chute sinking a 3-pointer, but the Roadrunners answered with a 7-0 run to take a 7-3 lead. The UTSA burst featured a pair of jumpers from Chidomere and Heineman's 40th 3-pointer of the season. Helped by a pair of free throws, the Owls put up a 4-0 run to tie the frame at seven. The two teams traded baskets the rest of the period to tie it up at 19 when Malia Kency hit a go-ahead layup with to take a two-point lead into the second quarter.
The second quarter started out back-and-forth but FAU ended the period outscoring the Roadrunners, 10-6, and took a 43-36 lead into halftime.
The Owls extended their momentum to the second half, hitting five of their first six shots from the field and starting the period on a 9-0 run. Registering a 69.2 shooting percentage from the field, FAU outscored UTSA, 28-13, by the end of the third period. The Owls cushioned their lead with 28 more points in the final frame to seal the win.
Inside The Numbers
- UTSA was held to 32.5 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from 3-point range.
- The Roadrunners out-rebounded FAU, 47-42, in the contest, led on the glass by Benson with a game-high 10 while Chidomere and Tija Hawkins hauled in eight apiece.
- Karrington Donald joined Chidomere, Heineman and Benson in double-figures with 10 points.
- Ra'Kyra Gabriel paced four Owls in double-figures with 27 points. Gabriel also led FAU with nine rebounds.
- FAU finished with a 6-2 edge in blocked shots led by three from Gabriel.
- UTSA committed 18 turnovers while only forcing 11.
News and Notes
- Chidomere scored 20 or more points for a second consecutive game. The senior last recorded a career-high 29 points against Old Dominion on Jan. 20th.
- Benson's double-double was her eighth of the season and the tenth for a Roadrunner this season.
- UTSA drops to 4-3 all-time against FAU and 3-1 against the Owls at the Convocation Center
- The Roadrunners drops to 2-6 at home this season.
Up Next
The Roadrunners travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. to challenge Southern Miss on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.