HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Elyssa Coleman and Jadyn Pimentel combined for 24 points in a tough 60-57 overtime loss at Southern Miss at Reed Green Coliseum.
Southern Miss opened the game with an early 4-0 advantage, but UTSA rallied and tied the game 4-4 at the 7:01 mark. A layup from Elyssa Coleman but the Roadrunners in the lead, 6-5, with 5:32 remaining, but the Lady Eagles scored three points to regain the lead (8-6). UTSA finished the quarter on a 4-2 run to tie the game 10-10 at the buzzer.
To start the second, Southern Miss scored nine consecutive points to lead 19-10. Queen Ulabo broke the scoring drought with a 3-pointer at the 5:07 mark which started a 7-0 for the Roadrunners to close the gap to two (19-17) with 3:49 remaining. The game then became a battle for the ball as both teams continued to find the basket. Chantel Govan hit a 3-pointer with 35 seconds remaining to bring UTSA within one (26-25) at the half.
Coming out of the locker room, Jadyn Pimentel made a layup 45 seconds in to take the lead (27-26). A free throw from the Lady Eagles tied the game 27-27 at the 7:41 mark. The game was tied two more times (31-31) until Southern Miss hit a 5-0 run to lead 36-31 with 6:10 remaining. The Lady Eagles hit a 7-2 run over a three minute span to lead 38-33 at the 3:29 mark. Three consecutive points for UTSA made it a two-point game (38-36) with a 1:15 to go. Southern Miss made a layup with 54 seconds remaining to lead 40-36 at the end of the third.
In the fourth, the Roadrunners hit a 5-2 scoring surge to trail by one (42-41) with 7:07 remaining. The Lady Eagles then went 6-0 run to extend the lead to seven, 48-41. UTSA came back within four (48-44), then Southern Miss made a free throw to push the lead back to five, 49-44. Coleman made a layup with 1:21 remaining to trail by three and Queen Ulabo made a free throw to close the gap to two with 44 seconds. Pimentel made a buzzer beater layup to tie the game and force overtime.
UTSA opened overtime with a 4-0 run to lead 53-49. The Lady Eagles turned around and hit a 5-0 run to regain the lead 54-53. Chantel Govan hit two free throws to take back the lead (55-54) and Coleman followed with a basket extend the lead to three (57-54) with 1:43 remaining. In the last minute and a half, Southern Miss went on a 6-0 run to clinch the win.
The Roadrunners return to the court Feb. 13 at WKU.
Notes
- UTSA is now 5-17 overall and 2-9 in conference
- Starters: Elyssa Coleman, Hailey Atwood, Jadyn Pimentel, Queen Ulabo, Chantel Govan
- Elyssa Coleman led the team with 14 points and Queen Ulabo led in rebounds with eight
-UTSA-