SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – The UTSA women's basketball team came up short to Grand Canyon in a 62-52 battle to close out the UTRGV SPI Classic Saturday afternoon.
Grand Canyon scored the first points of the game, but UTSA hit a 5-0 run to take an early lead (5-2) at the 8:27 mark. The game then became a battle for the ball as both teams continued to find the basket and tied the quarter twice as the Lopes led by two (19-17) at the end of the first.
GCU extended the lead to four (21-17) in the second until the Roadrunners hit a 7-0 run to lead 24-21 at the 6:35 mark. The Lopes ended the quarter on a 13-3 run to lead 34-27 at the half.
In the third, Grand Canyon continued its momentum opening with a 5-0 run to lead 39-27. Lapraisjah Johnson brought the Roadrunners within 10 (39-29), but the Lopes followed with a 4-0 run to push the lead once more. UTSA hit a scoring surge to trail 43-35 with 2:45 remaining. Another short run from GCU put it up by 12 (47-35) with 52 seconds on the clock. The Roadrunners finished on a 5-0 run to trail by seven (47-40) going to the fourth.
Grand Canyon opened the fourth with a 3-pointer, then UTSA retaliated and scored six consecutive points to bridge the gap to four (50-46) at the 7:19 mark. The Lopes hit another scoring run to push the lead (58-46) and the Roadrunners followed with a 6-0 run, but it wasn't enough as GCU claimed the game.
The Roadrunners are back in action on Monday when they travel to Texas A&M. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
Notes
- UTSA is now 3-7 on the season
- Starters: Jadyn Pimentel, Elena Blanding, Queen Ulabo, Charlene Mass, Lapraisjah Johnson
- Pimentel led the team once again with 21 points
-UTSA-