BOCA RATON, Fla. — Redshirt junior Elyssa Coleman recorded her second double-double in as many games on Wednesday, this time scoring 16 points at a 73% clip to go with 10 rebounds in a 73-60 American Athletic Conference win over Florida Atlantic inside Baldwin Arena.
The Roadrunners (8-7, 2-2 AAC) bested the Owls (5-10, 0-4 AAC), as Coleman led the contest in rebounds, helping UTSA haul in five more boards than their opponents. The 'Runners also shot 46% from the field to FAU's 36%, swatted five more blocks, and swiped three more steals.
Freshman Aysia Proctor provided the bulk of the UTSA offense, scoring 17 points, with senior Kyra White logging 12 and sophomore Maya Linton 10. White delivered an all-around solid performance, dishing out five assists and recording four steals.
Just behind Coleman, freshman Idara Udo was second on the team with seven rebounds, and sophomore Sidney Love tied her for the second-most assists, each charting four.
FAU jumped out to an 11-4 lead early in the first quarter before back-to-back White triples sparked a 15-0 surge that allowed consecutive Linton makes to work a 19-11 UTSA edge. Love then capped off the period with a free throw, resulting in a 20-11 score line entering the second.
The teams traded baskets to open the stanza, with the 'Runners keeping their opponents at arms-length for a 26-15 advantage midway through the frame. The Owls scored the subsequent four points and, following a pair of Linton freebies, sunk a triple to trim their deficit to six. Graduate student Hailey Atwood and Proctor then hit triples down the stretch to take a 36-28 lead into the locker room.
FAU knocked down a three-pointer to open the third, and White responded with a jumper. After another Owl bucket, Proctor connected from beyond the arc with Coleman and Love layups following for a 45-33 Roadrunner edge. Love swiped a steal and found Linton on the break, building a 14-point lead. The Owls sunk a three-pointer, and the teams exchanged blows before Linton nailed a three-pointer of her own, keeping UTSA in front, 56-42. FAU, however, scored the next five points for a 56-47 score entering the final frame.
UTSA grew a lead as large as 18 with five minutes remaining in the contest, but the Owls wouldn't go quietly, launching a 9-0 run with three consecutive triples. The Roadrunners still held a 67-58 edge at the two-minute mark when White found Proctor to halt the run. UTSA then sunk its free throws en route to a 73-60 victory.
The Roadrunners will return to the Convocation Center in San Antonio, next hosting Charlotte in a 2 p.m. C.T. Blue Out matchup on Sunday before inviting South Florida at 6:30 p.m. C.T. on Tuesday.
Keep up with UTSA Women's Basketball all season long on goutsa.com and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAWBB, X (Twitter) @UTSAWBB, and on Instagram @UTSA_WBB.
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