SAN ANTONIO — Redshirt junior Elyssa Coleman dropped a career-high in both points and rebounds, scoring 32 and snagging 19 boards to help UTSA take down Wichita State, 74-60, in what represented the Roadrunner's inaugural American Athletic Conference victory on Saturday in the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners (7-7, 1-2 AAC) led wire-to-wire against the Shockers (5-10, 1-2 AAC) as Coleman became the first member of the squad to record over 15 rebounds since Yuliyana Valcheva accomplished the feat against FIU on Feb. 6, 2021. She also represented the first 'Runner to score over 30 points since senior Jordyn Jenkins dropped 33 in a matchup with FIU on Feb. 25, 2023. In the process, Coleman registered her first double-double of the season, going 14-for-20 from the field and adding three blocks and a steal to her stat line.
Also delivering a solid performance, sophomore Sidney Love charted 16 points for her eighth double-digit scoring performance of the season, recording six assists and two steals. Meanwhile, senior Kyra White scored 12, hauled in nine rebounds, and dished out eight dimes.
As a team, UTSA recorded 12 more rebounds than the opposition, helping achieve 24 second-chance points and 36 points in the paint.
Freshman Aysia Proctor got the 'Runners on the board early, connecting on a triple ahead of four straight Coleman points that saw a 7-0 advantage. A fast break layup for White and a free throw by Coleman then saw a 10-point UTSA edge midway through the frame. The Shockers found the bottom of the net for the first time with three minutes remaining in the period, as a three-pointer cut their deficit to seven. UTSA rebuilt a double-digit lead using a White triple and a Love layup to work a 17-5 score line. The squads then traded baskets with a Coleman bucket seeing a 19-8 score at the conclusion of the first quarter.
The second stanza saw WSU pull within six. However, a Love triple helped keep the opposition at arms-length, resulting in a 28-19 score line. Not to be deterred, the Shockers sparked a 7-2 surge that trimmed their deficit to four. Love again nailed a three-pointer, allowing the Roadrunners to retain their lead. WSU then scored the final four points of the half, resulting in a 33-30 score, still favoring UTSA at the break.
A Love layup and a Proctor three-pointer put the Roadrunners up 38-30 to open the third quarter before an 11-2 Shocker run allowed WSU to pull within one. Coleman halted the streak with a jumper, and the squads exchanged blows before heading into the final frame with UTSA leading, 50-49.
The Roadrunners snagged the first six points of the fourth quarter, with freshman Idara Udo knocking down back-to-back shots ahead of a Coleman make. Shortly after, a 9-0 UTSA surge featuring multiple Coleman buckets resulted in a 69-55 lead. UTSA then finished strong, working a 74-60 win for their first as a member of The American.
UTSA will now hit the road again, this time visiting Florida Atlantic with a 6 p.m. C.T. start time inside FAU Arena in Boca Raton, Florida.
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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