EL PASO, Texas- For a second consecutive game, the UTSA women's basketball team overcame a second-half deficit to stun UTEP, this time on the strength of 29 points from senior Crystal Chidomere as the Roadrunners toppled the Miners, 58-55, Friday night at the Don Haskins Center.
Chidomere tallied 23 of her game-high 29 points in the second half to help the Roadrunners (7-19, 5-10 C-USA) push past the Miners (14-12, 5-8 C-USA). The senior's efforts matched her career-high 29 points recorded against Old Dominion earlier this season.
Joining Chidomere in double figures was sophomore Marie Benson, who recorded 14 points. UTEP was paced by Najala Howell with 17 points. Overall, UTSA shot 41.5 percent (22-53) to UTEP's 44.0 percent (22-50).
Chidomere and Benson also guided the Roadrunners defensively with nine and eight rebounds, respectively. Their efforts helped UTSA win the rebounding battle, 35-29 and hold a 10-3 edge in second chance points.
Turning Points
It was a close game throughout the opening frame as the squads knotted at two four minutes into regulation. UTEP broke the back-and-forth with an 11-0 run to surge to a 17-6 lead through 10 minutes of action.
The Miners stretched their lead to as many as 15 on a couple of occasions during a back-and-forth second quarter. The Roadrunner defense battled back to keep UTEP scoreless for the final 3:06 of the frame, but UTEP was able to was able to carry a 12-point lead (34-22) into halftime.
Persistent, UTSA went to work in the third quarter, unleashing a 12-3 run over the first seven-plus minutes to trim the Miners' advantage down to three (37-34). The run featured seven points from Chidomere. The home squad halted the UTSA run with a pair of baskets from Tamara Sedazz and a triple to take a seven point advantage (47-40) heading to the fourth quarter.
The Roadrunners came out firing to start the final frame, ripping off eight straight points over the first five minutes to secure their first lead of the contest at 48-47. UTEP would reclaim the lead one last time, but consecutive jumpers by Chidomere allowed UTSA to regain the lead (54-51), and it would not relinquish it. The Roadrunners ultimately outscored the Miners, 36-21, in the second half.
Up Next
UTSA returns to the Convocation Center for a Sunday contest against Rice. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.
