MIAMI – The UTSA women's basketball team dropped a 51-40 decision to FIU Thursday morning at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
After overcoming a 19-deficit and tying up the game in the fourth quarter, the UTSA (6-16, 1-9) fell short in the final minutes of the game. FIU (4-19, 1-9) picked up its first C-USA win scoring 31.5 percent from the field.
Both teams struggled to score at the beginning of the game until the 7:09 mark when Marie Benson posted the first points for UTSA. Tija Hawkins followed with a layup at the 6:36 mark. No one scored until 4:21 when FIU made two free throws. The Panthers followed with a 3-pointer to take the lead, 5-4. FIU posted a layup to increase the lead to three (4-7) until a layup from Karrington Donald brought the Roadrunners within one. UTSA posted four blocks in the first quarter as it trailed 6-7 going to the second.
The Panthers went on a 7-0 run to start the second until Karrington Donald made a layup at 6:16, bringing the Roadrunners within six (8-14). FIU followed with a 13-0 run until Charlotte Ellmore posted a 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining. UTSA trailed 27-11 at the half.
The Roadrunners opened the third quarter with a layup from Barbara Benson to bring them within 14 (13-27). Tija Hawkins posted a layup at 8:13 to bridge the gap once again (15-27). Two free throws from Barbara Benson brought the Roadrunners within 10 (17-27) with 7:52 remaining.
FIU posted a layup at 7:28 and Tija Hawkins followed to bring the score back within 10 (19-29).
Neither team scored for 3:36 until the Panthers scored, but Evelyn Omemmah posted her first points of the game to keep the UTSA in the action. Hawkins scored back-to-back shots to bring the Roadrunners within six (25-31).
Two free throws from Evelyn Omemmah brought the UTSA within four (27-31) until a layup from Barbara Benson closed in as the Roadrunners trailed by two, 29-31, going to the fourth.
UTSA closed the 16-point deficit, outscoring the Panthers, 18-4 in the quarter.
The Panthers scored early in the fourth to increase the lead back to four, 29-33. Two free throws from Tija Hawkins brought UTSA back within two with 6:55 remaining.
Hawkins tied up the game at 33 and garnered a free throw from a foul as the Roadrunners took the lead 34-33 at the 6:32 mark.
The Roadrunners held a one-point lead for about a minute until FIU put up a 3-pointer to take back the lead. Marie Benson tied the game at 38 with 4:22 remaining.
FIU scored another 13 points to take the victory, 51-40.
The Roadrunners return to action on Saturday at Florida Atlantic. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT.
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