BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Despite leading for three quarters of the game, the UTSA women's basketball team concluded its first conference road trip with a 77-69 loss to WKU as the Lady Toppers used a strong fourth quarter to come back.
GAME LEADERS
Kyra White led UTSA as she scored a career-high 18 points, including a career-high three three-point baskets. Two more Roadrunners scored in double digits – Elyssa Coleman (17) and Sidney Love (14). Coleman was just a rebound shy of a double-double, leading the team with nine boards. UTSA led the way in almost every category, but the three-pointers and turnovers made the difference. The Lady Toppers notched 10 three-point baskets, while the Roadrunners countered with four. UTSA had 23 turnovers, while WKU had 14 turnovers.
BREAKDOWN OF THE GAME
The Roadrunners jumped out to a hot start, outscoring the Lady Toppers by 24 points to 14 points in the first quarter. After winning the jump ball, Jordyn Jenkins took it all the way and made a layup to score the first points of the game. For the rest of the period, the Roadrunners dominated the court, holding onto the lead the entire way. Coleman led the way with eight points, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe and also notching a couple field goals.
Western Kentucky began to pick up the pace in the second quarter, leading with 20 points to UTSA's 18. Despite that, the Roadrunners had enough cushion to keep the lead until the half. In the second period, Love led the way with eight points scored. The Lady Toppers got as close as five points with 33 seconds on the clock but a three-pointer made by White right before the buzzer took the game to halftime with a 42-34 UTSA lead.
In the third quarter, the Lady Toppers continued to climb their way back as they scored 19 points to UTSA's 14 points. The Roadrunners continued to hold onto their lead, taking a 56-53 advantage to the fourth quarter. Just 15 seconds into the fourth quarter, a three-point basket by WKU's Teresa Faustino tied the game up. The next two minutes saw a tie and two lead changes; the Lady Toppers coming out of it with the lead. WKU exploded for 24 points, while UTSA was not able to keep up with 13 points of their own. The Lady Toppers completed the comeback as UTSA fell to Western Kentucky, 77-69.
UTSA's record falls to 3-10 (1-3 in C-USA action), while Western Kentucky's record improves to 5-8 (2-2 in C-USA play).
UP NEXT: The Roadrunners return home next week, hosting UTEP on Jan. 11. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (CT) at the Convocation Center.
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