SAN ANTONIO — As the clock winded down in double-overtime, a freshman Idara Udo game-winner allowed the UTSA women's basketball program to take down the American Athletic Conference's top squad, with the Roadrunners besting Charlotte, 81-80 on Sunday inside the Convocation Center.
Following a 49er three-pointer with 13 seconds on the clock, Udo hauled in an offensive rebound and got a second-chance layup to fall, handing UTSA the lead with 1.8 seconds remaining. The Roadrunners then swarmed Charlotte's in-bounder as graduate student Hailey Atwood poked the ball free, authorizing the final buzzer to sound and cement an 81-80 UTSA victory.
The Roadrunners (9-7, 3-2 The American) issued the 49ers (11-6, 4-1 The American) their first loss in league play, as Udo recorded the best game of her career, scoring 26 points at a 69% clip and collecting nine rebounds with three blocks.
Meanwhile, fellow newcomer Aysia Proctor led the contest with 13 boards and used 17 points on five triples to secure her second double-double of the season.
Senior Kyra White delivered a solid all-around performance, falling just short of a triple-double to the tune of nine points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Additionally, redshirt junior Elyssa Coleman has maintained a hot hand, dropping 12 points in what represented her sixth straight game with double-digit scoring figures.
As a team, UTSA shot 41% from the field to the Niners' 34%, snagged 13 more rebounds than their opponents, and scored seven more second-chance points.
Udo got UTSA on the board early before Charlotte embarked on a 6-0 run midway through the first quarter. Udo snapped the streak with a trio of free throws, seeing a 6-5 score line, with a Coleman jumper shortly after resulting in a 7-7 tie. The Niners knocked down a triple, and the squads traded buckets for a 12-9 CLT lead at the conclusion of the quarter.
Coleman opened up the second stanza with back-to-back Udo baskets, issuing a 15-12 UTSA lead. Again, exchanging blows, Atwood connected on a triple for a 20-18 Roadrunner advantage. Charlotte quickly tied things up, but a Proctor layup sparked a 10-1 UTSA surge, with five points coming courtesy of White. The Niners sunk two free throws en route to a 29-25 Roadrunner lead as the teams headed into the locker room.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Proctor helped UTSA work a 35-27 edge early in the third before Charlotte answered with consecutive triples of their own. Sophomore Sidney Love then connected from beyond the arc for a 38-33 lead for the 'Runners. Proctor sunk her third triple of the quarter, ahead of five consecutive 49er points that saw a 43-42 score line, still favoring UTSA. Back-to-back buckets for Udo permitted a 50-44 Roadrunner advantage before a Niner free throw sent the squads into the fourth quarter, with UTSA leading 50-45.
Another triple by Proctor allowed the 'Runners to maintain a 56-51 lead midway through the final frame. Charlotte cut their deficit to one with five consecutive points, but a Coleman jumper kept UTSA in front, 62-59. The Niners then nailed a three-pointer, knotting the contest, 62-62 with under a minute in regulation. From there, neither team could find the bottom of the net, sending the game into overtime.
A senior Kyleigh McGuire hook shot and a pair of Coleman freebies helped UTSA to a slim 66-65 lead in overtime. A three-minute scoring drought ensued, with a 49er free throw tying the contest 66-66 with 38 seconds remaining in the period. Udo was fouled, sending her to the charity stripe with nine seconds on the clock. She converted both, working a 68-66 UTSA lead, but Dazia Lawrence beat the buzzer for Charlotte, prompting a second overtime period.
Charlotte knocked down a three-pointer to open double overtime and sunk a free throw for a 72-68 advantage. Udo nailed two freebies, and Love scored on a floater, retying the game at 72. The 49ers converted a pair of their own from the charity stripe ahead of a Proctor three-pointer, resulting in a 75-74 UTSA lead. The squads exchanged blows, and another Niner free throw saw a 77-77 deadlock. Atwood tickled the twine on a jumper, and the 49ers again responded, sinking a triple with 13 seconds remaining before Udo's heroics secured the Roadrunner's win.
UTSA will remain in the Convocation Center for their next contest, as they host South Florida for Greek Night on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
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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