SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA women's basketball team dropped a 69-52 decision to UTEP Thursday evening at the Convocation Center.
Lapraisjah Johnson scored 10 points to the Roadrunners, but UTSAS couldn't overcome nine 3-pointers from the Miners in the midweek matchup.
The game started as a battle for the ball as both teams hit short scoring stints and tied the quarter three times until UTSA took the lead (9-7) at the 6:28 mark. The Miners gained the lead at the 5:58 mark (10-9) and the Roadrunners retaliated to lead 12-10 with 3:51 remaining, but UTEP hit a 10-0 run to regain the lead and held onto it until the end of the quarter (20-13).
Yuliyana Valcheva scored right off the bat with a basket at the 9:34 mark in the second, but the Miners followed with a 9-0 run to extend the lead (29-15). Chantel Govan broke the streak with a 3-pointer at the 5:54 mark as UTSA trailed 29-18. The Roadrunners were able to close the gap to 10 (32-33) with a 4-0 run, but the Miners closed out the half on a 7-4 scoring surge to lead 39-36.
Coming out of the locker room, the battle continued as each team has scored six points at the 4:47 mark (46-32). UTEP then gained momentum and finished the quarter on a 10-5 run to lead 56-37 going to the fourth.
In the final 10 minutes, UTEP kept the momentum going with a 9-3 run to extend the lead (65-40) at the 5:21 mark. UTSA closed out the game on a 10-2 run to bridge the gap to 17 but it wasn't enough as the Miners clinched the game.
The Roadrunners and the Miners return to the court on Sunday in El Paso at 2 p.m. CT.
Notes
- UTSA is now 4-13 overall and 1-5 in conference
- Starters: Elyssa Coleman, Jadyn Pimentel, Queen Ulabo, Lapraisjah Johnson, Chantel Govan
- Johnson led the team with 10 points and Ulabo followed behind with nine, while Coleman, Ulabo and Elena Blanding each grabbed four boards.
-UTSA-