WICHITA – American Athletic Conference leader UTSA prevailed, 60-49, in a physical contest Saturday afternoon in Charles Koch Arena.
 
The Roadrunners (20-3, 11-1 AAC) shot 26-for-33 from the free throw line and used a 22-9 fourth quarter to pull away in a game where the Shockers (8-17, 2-10 AAC) held the lead for 26 minutes. After shooting 23.7 percent from the field through the first three quarters, UTSA's shots started to fall in the fourth quarter, shooting 6-for-14 (42.9 percent) to close out the game.
 
Wichita State only got to the line 11 times to UTSA's 3, but hit nine of 11, its fourth time shooting above 80 percent from the charity stripe.
 
UTSA's Idara Udo recorded a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double, helping the Roadrunners dominate the boards, 51-33.
 
The Shockers forced 10 first-half turnovers, scoring eight points off those turnovers and had 14 points in the paint to UTSA's four. Salese Blow led all scoring in the first half, scoring 11 of her 15 points before halftime to give the Shockers a four-point lead.
 
Defense, rebounding and free throw shooting kept UTSA in the game in the third quarter, going into the final quarter down two to the Shockers.
 
"They're one of the best defensive teams in our league, and their coaching staff does a good job of scouting and taking away first reads," Nooner said.
 
Down the stretch, Wichita State shot just 3-for-14 (21.4 percent), and the Roadrunners took their first lead since 11-10 in the first quarter with 6:17 to play. UTSA out-scored the Shockers 22-9 in the fourth quarter, hitting nine of 12 free throws to help put the game away.
 
Wichita State held UTSA to just 28.8 percent shooting on the game, but the Roadrunners had 17 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points.
 
"Our defense was awesome today," Nooner said. "We did a better job of limiting their shots, but they do a good job of getting second chances."
 
Blow led the Shockers with 15 points, and Jayla Murray recorded her fifth-straight game in double figures with 14, also leading the team in rebounding with seven.
 
"The second half against Tulsa, our last game, and today have been some of our best defensive performances, so we've got to keep that intensity, and we'll get better at knocking down some wide-open shots," Nooner said. "We're going to continue to play hard, and we'll be better," Nooner said.
 
Wichita State hits the road to take on Charlotte (7-15, 2-9 AAC) Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. CT in Halton Arena.