BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UTSA women's basketball team dropped a 57-50 decision to UAB in a battle at Bartow Arena Wednesday evening.
Elyssa Coleman and Deborah Nwakamma combined for 23 points but it wasn't enough as the Blazers just outscored the Roadrunners in each half to garner the game.
Elyssa Coleman put the first points on the board at the 8:28 mark to lead 2-0. UAB then hit a scoring surge with a 9-0 run to lead 9-2 with 3:33 remaining. Charlene Mass broke the scoring drought with back-to-back shots to start a 7-0 run and tie the game 9-9 at the end of the first.
The Roadrunners continued with their momentum scoring back-to-back baskets from Yuliyana Valcheva and Hailey Atwood to lead 13-9 at the 6:46 mark. The Blazers then hit a 9-0 run to regain the lead 18-13. Atwood put UTSA within three (18-15) with 4:35 remaining. UAB once again scored five consecutive points to extend the lead to seven. In the last three and a half minutes, the Roadrunners outscored the Blazers by one (8-7) to trail 29-23 at the half.
UTSA came out of the locker room on a 6-4 run to trail by four (33-29) at the 4:54 mark. UAB pushed the lead back to seven (35-32), but the Roadrunners were able to gain momentum as Deborah Nwakamma hit a 3-pointer at the 3:46 mark to trail 35-23. The Blazers scored five more points until UTSA finished the quarter on a 6-0 run to trail 40-38 at the buzzer.
UAB opened the fourth on a 5-2 run until four consecutive points from the Roadrunners made it a one-point game (45-44) at the 4:58 mark. The Blazers went on another scoring surge, recording a 12-6 run to finish the game and clinch the win.
The Roadrunners are back in action March 3 at North Texas.
Notes
- UTSA is now 6-20 overall and 3-12 in conference
- Starters: Elyssa Coleman, Hailey Atwood, Jadyn Pimentel, Queen Ulabo, Lapraisjah Johnson
- Coleman and Deborah Nwakamma scored double digits with 12 and 11, respectively
- Pimentel led the team in rebounds with seven
-UTSA-