SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA women’s basketball squad picked up its first conference win of the season, beating the Wichita State Shockers 74-60 on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center. Redshirt junior forward Elyssa Coleman led the team in both points (32) and rebounds (19) in the 14-point victory.
Entering the final frame up 50-49, Coleman took over the game, scoring 15 fourth-quarter points to lead the way for the Roadrunners (7-7, 1-2 AAC). Despite the team’s sluggish shooting performance, UTSA was able to out score the Shockers (5-10, 1-2) 36-22 in the paint.
Freshman guard Aysia Proctor set the tone early with a 3-pointer less than a minute into the game. UTSA would maintain a 10-0 lead for nearly seven minutes as Wichita State would miss its first 11 shots. A layup from Coleman put the Roadrunners up 11 as they exited the first period.
Freshman forward Idara Udo scored UTSA its first points of the second period with a layup to push the lead to 13, the largest of the half for either squad. The second period was all Wichita State as they would out score UTSA 22-14. Sophomore guard Sidney Love had eight points alone this period, while the rest of the team could only manage six points combined. Wichita State would chip away at the lead and UTSA would enter the half with a three point advantage.
With three seconds remaining in the period, both teams had scored 17 points. A personal foul from UTSA freshman guard Emma Lucio sent Shockers guard Tre’Zure Jobe to the line where she would sink both shots. Leading by just a single point, the Roadrunners would have to play clean and efficient basketball in the final period to close this one out.
Udo made the team’s first two shots in the fourth period, including a heavily contested layup that led to a foul. Udo missed the extra free-throw but Coleman was right there to pick up the rebound and the second chance score which led to their first conference win.
UTSA will look to build a win streak as the team heads to Boca Raton to face FAU. Tipoff will be at 6 p.m. Monday at Abessinio Court in the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
