Author Archives: Jerry Briggs

UTSA’s Udo is on the floor, warming up, ahead of today’s game against North Texas

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA forward Idara Udo could be getting closer to returning to play. Udo, who has had to sit out eight straight games with a lower leg injury, has been upgraded to questionable for today against the North Texas Mean Green.

About 54 minutes before tipoff, she has just emerged from the dressing room, in uniform, to take the floor for warmups.

It’s the first time that the third-year UTSA stalwart’s status has been reported as anything other than ‘out, full game’ since the American Conference opener on Dec. 30. The American started issuing player availability reports this season.

Udo last played on Dec. 15 against Texas A&M-Kingsville. After that game, she was seen afterward wearing a walking boot.

Though UTSA hasn’t mentioned the nature of the injury, the 6-foot-1 junior from Plano sat out games against Columbia, Tulane, Temple, Charlotte, South Florida, Florida Atlantic, East Carolina and Memphis.

UTSA has won four and lost four in her absence. Udo averaged 8.1 points and 7.2 rebounds in her first 10 games. She entered the season projected as second-team, all conference.

Last year, Udo was a major contributor to a record-breaking, American Conference championship season. She played and started all 31 games and averaged 8.7 points and 7.5 rebounds. Udo was the top offensive rebounder in the conference in conference games.

UTSA finished 26-5 overall and 17-1 in the American. This year, the team is 9-9 and 4-3.

UTSA women to host North Texas, nation’s leading rebounder; men aim to stop skid against UAB

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA will host a couple of American Conference basketball games on Wednesday at the Convocation Center, with the women meeting the North Texas Mean Green at 3 p.m. and the men taking on the UAB Blazers at 7.

Women’s basketball

Game 1 — North Texas at UTSA
3 p.m.

Men’s basketball

Game 2 — UAB at UTSA
7 p.m.

Game 1 at a glance

North Texas (11-9, 5-3) — UTSA fans will have their first opportunity to see Mean Green forward Megan Nestor, who leads the nation in rebounding (13.2) and ranks eighth in the conference in scoring (12.9). A native of St. Lucia in the Caribbean, she made headlines in December with a 34-point, 31-rebound game against Texas Southern. The Wayland Baptist transfer also pulled down 27 boards in North Texas’ 57-53 loss to Tulsa at home last Friday. Another storyline centers on the return of North Texas guard Aysia Proctor to the Convocation Center. The former standout at San Antonio-area Clemens High School played two seasons at UTSA before entering the transfer portal last spring. Proctor leads the Mean Green in scoring (13.6) and steals (1.5). North Texas has lost two of its last three.

UTSA (9-9, 4-3) — Decimated by injuries to six scholarship players, the defending conference champion Roadrunners aren’t playing well. They’ve have dropped three of their last four games and two in a row. After a dispiriting 52-40 loss at Memphis last Friday, fifth-year UTSA coach Karen Aston suggested that the team had “hit the wall,” not playing with the necessary effort or concentration. However blunt the assessment, it rang true, because early in the second half it felt as if UTSA might not finish the game with 35 points. Against a team with only one win in the conference, no less. On the flip side, the Roadrunners will enter the North Texas game with solid upper-class leadership in Cheyenne Rowe and Ereauna Hardaway and talented underclassmen who tend to play better at home. Like Proctor, Hardaway may have added motivation in that she played the past three seasons at North Texas. Rowe averages 12.6 points and 8.8 rebounds, and Hardaway 10.9 points and 5.1 assists.

Game 2 at a glance

UAB (12-8, 3-4) — Sixth-year UAB coach Andy Kennedy has averaged 25 wins over the last five seasons at the program based in Birmingham, Ala. His Blazers reached the NCAA tournament in 2022, out of Conference USA, and in 2024, out of the American. If they hope to reach the 20-win plateau or the national tournament this season, they’ll need to turn it on down the stretch to get there. Knowing Kennedy and his reputation for success, though, it wouldn’t be surprising if his team is ready to make it happen. Lad by guards Chance Westry and Jacob Meyer, the Blazers average 82.4 points a game. Both score 14-plus scorers per night. Three others average 11 points plus. So, they are explosive. Also, they’ve been good lately on the road. UAB is 3-0 in the American in games played away from home. Of course, it’s a mystery surrounds why they are 0-4 in conference at home.

UTSA (4-16, 0-8) — All eyes in the Convocation Center in the night game will be on the home team Roadrunners, who will hit the floor trying to snap out of a school-record 13-game losing streak. Injuries could be a factor against the Blazers as electric sophomore Baboucarr Njie, coming off a 25-point, 10-rebound, 5-block performance last Saturday in a 70-64 loss to Temple, might be limited with his mobility. Njie tweaked an ankle early in the second half in the Temple game. Guard Dorian Hayes also could be affected with shoulder issues. Three players are out for the season, including Vasean Allette, the team’s top offseason pickup out of the transfer portal. Allette is our for personal reasons. Also sitting out are forward Macaleab Rich and guard Pierce Spencer (for the season) and center Stanley Borden (game by game).

Quotable

Second-year UTSA coach Austin Claunch had this to say Monday on a zoom conference:

“I was really happy with the way we played against Temple. Certainly the best we’ve played in the league. I don’t think anybody would debate that. You know, got to finish the first half a little bit better, but still had a halftime lead. They came out with a better three minutes in that second to build that lead to 12. I think that was their biggest second-half lead.

“I was really proud of our group to battle back the way that we did. Got the thing back to one with about seven or eight minutes left. It was just a good college basketball game (with) runs made on each side. They just made a couple more plays than we did. I told our team afterward, it’s hard. That’s the first time we’d been in that situation in league play. We got to put ourselves in more situations like that to finish those games.

“We’re excited for Wednesday. (The Temple game was) certainly something to build off of. (Monday’s) an important day of prep. We’ll get out here and run around a little bit. Have a physical (practice) tomorrow (Tuesday). We’ll build up. (Baboucarr Njie) obviously got hurt the other day. He’ll be fine but he won’t (practice) much (Monday) with his ankle, make sure he’s ready to go by Wednesday. And Dorian (Hayes), obviously, with his shoulder. We want guys getting healthy. So (Monday) will be an important day of prep and have a good one (Tuesday), as well, and come out here and play well Wednesday.”

Correction: A previous version of this report misidentified Aysia Proctor’s high school. Proctor attended Clemens High School.

Temple rallies to win, 70-64, handing the UTSA men their 13th straight loss

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UTSA forward Baboucarr Njie put on a show against Temple with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. Njie, who joined the program as a walk on in the summer of 2024, has scored 20-plus points twice in his last four games. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The Temple Owls shrugged off a shaky start and rallied behind talented guards Derrian Ford and Jordan Mason for a 70-64 road victory Saturday afternoon, handing the UTSA men their 13th consecutive loss.

With the win, Temple improved its record to 13-7 overall and 5-2 in the American Conference, all while prolonging UTSA’s school-record losing streak. The Owls are 2-0 against the Roadrunners this season after claiming a 76-57 victory on Jan. 3 in Philadelphia.

The Roadrunners, meanwhile, fell to 4-16 and 0-8 despite a mega-performance from forward Baboucarr Njie. The Ohio native, who joined the UTSA program in the summer of 2024 as a walk on, produced career-high 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Temple Jordan Mason. Temple beat UTSA 70-64 in American Conference men's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Temple guard Jordan Mason from San Antonio scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half. Mason played in high school at Clark in the Northside School District. – Photo by Joe Alexander

It was the second 20-plus points scoring effort in the last four games from the 6-foot-6 sophomore from Dayton, who has emerged as one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal season.

Njie started fast and led the Roadrunners to an early 10-point lead. His driving layup into traffic with 11:12 left in the half boosted UTSA into a 23-13 advantage against one of the top teams in the American.

After that, Temple took charge of the game, pulling to within two at halftime and then mounting a charge in the second half that yielded a 12-point lead. Not backing down, UTSA made another push and pulled to within two.

From there, though, Temple manufactured an 11-4 run over the next four minutes to secure the victory. Mason, who played in high school at Clark, about 10 minutes away from UTSA, hit five of seven free throws in the stretch.

His two straight at the line with 41 seconds left essentially put the game away, giving the Owls a nine-point cushion.

“It came down to some late clock execution, and they made more shots and got to the line at a better rate than we did at the end of the game,” Roadrunners coach Austin Claunch told Andy Everett on the team’s radio broadcast.

Claunch applauded Ford and Mason for their play, especially in late-clock situations.

“Veteran guards,” the coach said. “They’ve played a lot of basketball. They do a great job. I think (coach) Adam (Fisher) is doing a great job. That’s why they’re where they are (in the standings).”

Ford, a former high school player of the year in Arkansas, finished with 21 points on seven of 11 shooting from the field. He scored 12 in the second half.

Austin Claunch. Temple beat UTSA 70-64 in American Conference men's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA coach Austin Claunch watched as his team played its best game in months, only to lose by six to the Temple Owls, one of the top teams in the American Conference – Photo by Joe Alexander

Mason, who has played previously at Texas State and the University of Illinois-Chicago, added 18 points.

He erupted for 14 in the second half. Not to be outdone, Temple guard Aiden Tobiason hit two shots down the stretch and produced 15 points.

The Roadrunners had double-figure scoring performances from Jamir Simpson (17 points), Austin Nunez (13) and Brent Moss (12 points and 12 rebounds). On the other hand, five UTSA players went scoreless.

Records

UTSA 4-16, 0-8
Temple 13-7, 5-2

Coming up

UAB at UTSA, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Notable

Mississippi Valley State has lost 18 in a row for the longest losing streak in NCAA Division I this season. UTSA and Air Force are tied for second with 13 straight. The Falcons, from the Mountain West Conference, lost 96-54 at Boise State later Saturday afternoon.

UTSA guard Dorian Hayes, listed in the pregame availability report as questionable to play, went scoreless on 0 for 3 shooting from the field in 26 minutes off the bench.

Temple forward Gavin Griffiths, who scored 23 in a victory over UTSA in Philadelphia on Jan. 3, had a tough day shooting the ball. The Nebraska transfer finished with four points in the rematch, hitting only 1 of 7 from the floor.

San Antonio Spurs guards De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper attended the game.

The Temple-UTSA game in San Antonio originally was scheduled for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday. It was pushed back to noon in hopes that Temple could travel and make it back to Philadelphia ahead of the winter storm.

First half

Led by Njie, the UTSA Roadrunners men played their best half of basketball in months, pushing out to a big early lead and then holding off the Temple Owls late for a 33-31 advantage at intermission.

Njie, a force on both ends of the floor, scored 14 points while also pulling down four rebounds and blocking three shots. In his offensive game, Njie made sure to take the ball inside, hitting six of 11 from the field.

Brent Moss also emerged as a key player with eight points, eight rebounds and a couple of steals, while Jamir Simpson scored eight points on four of eight shooting.

For Temple, Derrian Ford scored nine points and pulled down five rebounds.

Brent Moss. Temple beat UTSA 70-64 in American Conference men's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA guard Brent Moss had had one of his best games of the season with 12 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Temple at UTSA men set for a noon tipoff today

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Both the UTSA Roadrunners and Temple Owls have player availability issues leading into today’s noon tipoff at the UTSA Convocation Center.

Listed as questionable are freshman guard Dorian Hayes for the Roadrunners and guard Gavin Griffiths for the Owls.

Records

Temple 12-7, 4-2
UTSA 4-15, 0-7

Coming up

Temple at UTSA, today, noon
UAB at UTSA, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners are looking to snap a 12-game losing streak, the longest in school history.

Memphis grinds out a 52-40 victory over the UTSA women

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Forward Amauri Williams produced 10 points and nine rebounds, guard Jordan Hunter hit two 3-point baskets late in the game, and the defense-minded Memphis Tigers held off the UTSA Roadrunners women, 52-40, Friday afternoon in Memphis.

Memphis locked down on the defensive end, holding UTSA to 29 percent shooting from the field, to snap a three-game losing streak.

UTSA also took a beating on the boards, 44-30, as the Roadrunners lost their second straight game for the first time since the first week of December.

“I think we’ve had some kids hit the wall a little bit,” UTSA coach Karen Aston told Neal Raphael on the team’s radio broadcast. “They just looked like they flat-lined a little bit with their effort and attention to detail.”

In the victory, Memphis (8-12, 2-5) received solid defensive play from its entire roster, notably guards Daejah Richmond and Hunter. Both pressured the ball on the perimeter and prevented UTSA (9-9, 4-3) from getting into a rhythm.

Hunter was also clutch, scoring six of her eight points in the fourth period, including two 3s that cut off UTSA’s momentum.

Richmond, meanwhile, finished with nine points and 11 rebounds. In addition, forward Tamya Smith pulled down 10 boards to frustrate the Roadrunners, who traditionally excel in that phase of the game.

“We’ve just got to get back to working hard again,” Aston said. “This didn’t look like a very hungry team. But again, you got to make shots. I mean, they only scored 52 points. It’s not like they blew us out of the water.

“We just can’t get on the boards right now. We’re getting killed on the boards. We’re getting killed in the paint, and they’re covering up … the people who have been the scorers for us. We’ve got to have other answers, and we just haven’t found that right now.”

Guard Ereauna Hardaway, one of UTSA’s primary scoring threats, produced 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds. The team’s leading scorer, Cheyenne Rowe, contributed eight points and nine rebounds.

But it was a battle for both of them as Hardaway hit four of 13 from the field and Rowe four of 14.

A few other issues may have played a role in the loss. First, Rowe was playing a few days after she sat out Tuesday night in San Antonio with an illness. Second, UTSA’s travel schedule was altered a few days ago.

Because of inclement weather across the south, officials moved the game from Saturday to Friday, meaning that the short-handed Roadrunners had one less day to recover from Tuesday’s 65-58 loss to East Carolina.

Aston credited the Tigers’ effort for what happened.

“They didn’t make it easy and nobody else does, either,” the coach said. “It’s just part of the game. If we wanted to be easy, then we’re in the wrong league.”

Records

UTSA 9-9, 4-3
Memphis 8-12, 2-5

Coming up

North Texas at UTSA, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Notable

Even though Rowe returned to the lineup, the Roadrunners continue to play without six of their scholarship players. Idara Udo sat out her eighth straight game with a lower leg injury.

First half

Led on the perimeter by guards Richmond and Hunter, the Tigers played superior defense en route to a 26-14 halftime lead.

Memphis trapped UTSA guards and played passing lanes and, in the process, held the Roadrunners to 22 percent shooting from the field. The Tigers also forced the Roadrunners into 11 turnovers.

Playing at home in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, the Tigers jumped on the Roadrunners early, forcing the visitors into one for eight shooting to start the game.

Memphis used the momentum to build a 13-5 lead at the quarter. In the second period, the Tigers continued to use pressure to their advantage.

Forcing a turnover and five straight misses, they expanded the lead to 20-7. The Roadrunners rallied, pulling to within 22-14 on a Mia Hammonds left-handed layup.

But in the last two minutes, Memphis held UTSA scoreless.

Third quarter

Guard Chae Harris knocked down a three at the end of the quarter as the Tigers assumed a 37-26 lead. UTSA guard Adriana Robles scored five points in the period.

Track coach James Blackwood produced two All-Americans in nine years at UTSA

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Former UTSA track and field coach James Blackwood passed away Thursday at the age of 84, according to a news story on the athletic department website.

Blackwood was a member of the UTSA track and field coaching staff for nine seasons from 1999-2000 to 2007-08. He spent the last seven seasons as head coach of the women’s program.

With the Roadrunners, he coached a pair of All-Americans in East Central High School graduate Ryanne Dupree — a four-time honoree and the 2006 Southland Conference Athlete of the Year — and Rhonda Ray.

He also had more than 60 all-conference performers and more than 25 conference champions.

A long-time former high school coach in the state, Blackwood worked for 12 years in the 1970s and ’80s as an assistant track coach at the University of Texas.

He was married to Susan Blackwood, a former executive director at San Antonio Sports, a key figure who helped the city host amateur sports competitions.

Player report indicates UTSA’s Rowe will be available today

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA women apparently will have starting forward Cheyenne Rowe available for today’s American Conference road game against the Memphis Tigers.

Rowe’s name is not on the latest player availability report, indicating that the team’s leading scorer and rebounder will be ready when the Roadrunners tip off against Memphis at 4 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

Rowe, suffering from an illness, sat out her first game of the season Tuesday night at home in a 65-58 loss to the East Carolina Lady Pirates.

The 6-foot-2 Canada native leads the team in scoring (12.9 points) and rebounds (8.8) for the season. In conference, she’s been more productive, averaging 14 and 12.8, respectively, including three games with double figures in rebounding.

Rowe is also one of the team’s top shot makers, hitting 46.1 percent for the season.

UTSA (9-8, 4-2) and Memphis (7-12, 1-5) were originally scheduled to meet on Saturday. But the game was moved up a day out of weather-related concerns in Tennessee.

Records

UTSA 9-8, 4-2
Memphis 7-12, 1-5

Coming up

UTSA at Memphis, Friday, 4 p.m.
North Texas at UTSA, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Notable

Starting forward Idara Udo is scheduled to sit out her eighth straight game with a lower leg injury. Udo will be out for today’s game along with Maya Linton, Ny Gony, Saher Alizada, Taylor Ross and Sema Udo. Gony, Ross and Sema Udo are out for the season.

North Texas wins 81-62 to hand the UTSA men a record 12th-straight loss

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The North Texas Mean Green built a 22-point lead at halftime and then held on for an 81-62 victory Wednesday night in Denton, handing the UTSA men’s basketball team a program record-breaking 12th straight loss.

The 2022-23 Roadrunners held the previous record of 11.

This season, Mississippi Valley State of the Southwestern Athletic Conference has dropped 18 in a row for the longest streak in the nation. The Roadrunners and the Air Force Falcons of the Mountain West Conference are tied for second.

UTSA (4-15, 0-7) made a push late in the game to pull within striking distance. First, Jamir Simpson snared an offensive rebound and fed Austin Nunez for a layup.

Nunez followed it up with a couple of free throws, cutting the lead to 13 with 4:49 to play. From there, North Texas (12-7, 3-3) responded with 10 straight points to pull away.

Mean Green guard Je’Shawn Stevenson capped the streak with a three out of the corner. Stevenson, a sophomore from Chicago, led the home team with 27 points.

The Cleveland State transfer made 10 of 19 from the field and seven of 13 from the 3-point arc.

UTSA coach Austin Claunch told Andy Everett on the postgame radio show that his team’s 46-25 rebounding deficit was a problem, but he said the bigger issue centered on turnovers.

With Mean Green defenders gambling in the passing lanes, making steals and creating deflections, the Roadrunners had 12 of their 15 turnovers in the first half.

“Just a frustrating, frustrating, similar story,” Claunch said.

Simpson scored 14, Brent Moss 14 and Austin Nunez 12 for the Roadrunners, who shot 36 percent from the field. Forward Baboucarr Njie had seven points, three rebounds and a record seven blocked shots. The 6-foot-6 Njie broke the previous record of six blocks by Tom Oswald, set in 1996.

“He’s got great timing,” Claunch said. “He’s got great feel. He’s a good athlete. For somebody that’s 6-6 or 6-5, down there banging the way he does, it’s certainly impressive.”

A scary moment unfolded for UTSA in the second half when freshman guard Dorian Hayes collided with North Texas forward Dylan Arnett near the sideline. Hayes came out off the floor with 12:51 remaining clutching his shoulder.

He returned with 11:53 showing and continued to play, finishing with eight points on one of four shooting.

Records

UTSA 4-15, 0-7
North Texas 12-7, 3-3

Coming up

Temple at UTSA, Saturday, 1 p.m.

First half

Stevenson hit a 28-footer at the buzzer, a long-distance three pointer, as the North Texas Mean Green took a 45-23 lead into the dressing room at intermission.

Stevenson led the Mean Green with 16 points on six of nine shooting. He connected on four of six from 3-point distance.

The game was close in the first seven minutes, but UTSA never really had a rhythm because of North Texas’ gambling defense.

Despite a flurry of early turnovers, the Roadrunners trailed only 11-7 with after Brent Moss nailed a three from the wing with 13:10 remaining.

North Texas outscored UTSA 34-16 the rest of the way.

UTSA shot only eight of 23 from the field and one of 10 from three in the opening 20 minutes. The Roadrunners committed nine turnovers.

Notable

It’s been almost two months since UTSA last won a game. The Roadrunners’ last victory came on Nov. 25 in Jacksonville, Fla., against the Georgia Southern Eagles.

The 12-game skid started with non-conference losses to South Alabama, 12th-ranked Alabama, Colorado, USC and Seattle. Losses in conference have come to FAU, Temple, Charlotte, Tulane, Rice, Memphis and North Texas.

Seven of the losses in the streak have been on the road, with five at home. The Roadrunners have home games upcoming against Temple on Saturday afternoon and UAB on Jan. 28.

North Texas and UTSA will play again in San Antonio on Feb. 7. It will be the first appearance on the UTSA campus for first-year Mean Green coach Daniyal Robinson, who worked previously for three years at Cleveland State. He replaced Ross Hodge, who was hired at West Virginia.

North Texas suffered a blow to its season when guard Will McClendon, who was averaging 13 points a game, injured his knee on Nov. 12 at Oregon State. A player who might have been the team’s go-to scorer is out for the season.

McClendon, from Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada, played as a freshman at UCLA and as a sophomore last season at San Jose State.

Mean Green guard Je’Shawn Stevenson is a former first-team all-city player at Chicago’s Lindblom High School. He played as a freshman at Cleveland State.

North Texas guard David Terrell Jr.‘s father — David Terrell Sr. — played played in college at UTEP and in the NFL for Washington and Oakland between 1998-2004.

East Carolina rallies in the second half to down the UTSA women, 65-58

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Keanna Rembert. East Carolina beat UTSA 65-58 in American Conference women's basketball on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

East Carolina forward Keanna Rembert (left) scored six of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA coach Karen Aston had told her players coming into Tuesday night that if they could hold the East Carolina Lady Pirates to less than 70 points, then they would have a chance to beat the highest-scoring team in the American Conference.

As it turned out, the high-flying Pirates failed to hit 70 but played better defense than the defense-minded Roadrunners, claiming a 65-58 victory at the Convocation Center in a battle between contenders in the American.

“We had too many turnovers and we gave up too many offensive rebounds,” Aston said. “That’s just the story of the game.”

The other story centered on a plague of injuries that has hurt UTSA all season. The problem was exacerbated against the Pirates when Cheyenne Rowe had to sit out with an illness.

Damara Allen. East Carolina beat UTSA 65-58 in American Conference women's basketball on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA guard Damara Allen scored 12 points on three of nine shooting. She also had three rebounds and three assists. – Photo by Joe Alexander

As a result, Rowe missed her first game of the season, joining six other players on the roster who have been out of action with assorted injuries.

Without Rowe and injured Idara Udo on the floor, the Roadrunners were extremely thin on the inside, playing sophomore Emilia Dannebauer 31 minutes and freshman Sanaa Bean 18, much more than their season averages.

East Carolina took full advantage, winning the battle of the boards, 32-26, including 17-8 on the offensive end. In the beginning, the Roadrunners shot the ball well and took an early eight-point lead.

But as the Pirates continued to trap and press, the Roadrunners turned it over 29 times, leading to 27 points for the visitors. It was just too much for the home team to overcome.

“I thought UT San Antonio had a good game plan, and that was to take the paint away from us,” East Carolina coach Kim McNeill said. “They did a really good job of that. We weren’t as clean as we normally are on offense.

“You got to credit that to the (UTSA) defense. I think we made some gutsy plays down the stretch. Down on the defensive end we got some stops when we needed … and we made some baskets when we needed them, too.”

East Carolina rallied behind forward Keanna Rembert, who scored six of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Trailing by 12 points midway through the fourth, the Roadrunners made it interesting, cutting the lead to seven with three minutes left.

In response, Rembert answered with a follow shot with 2:54 remaining to boost the advantage to nine. UTSA couldn’t get closer than six the rest of the way.

Mia Hammonds and Damara Allen scored 12 points apiece to lead the Roadrunners. Guard Ereauna Hardaway, the team’s second-leading scorer, was held to eight points on one for five shooting.

Mia Hammonds. East Carolina beat UTSA 65-58 in American Conference women's basketball on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA forward Mia Hammonds notched 12 points, six rebounds, one block and a steal. – Photo by Joe Alexander

East Carolina’s primary threat in the backcourt had an off night, as well. Kennedy Fauntleroy, who had averaged 23 points in three previous games, was held to two points on two free throws.

The Arizona State transfer also committed seven turnovers and eventually fouled out. But in Fauntleroy’s case, her teammates in the backcourt picked up the slack to win in one of the toughest places to play in the American.

Guards Savannah Brooks and Jayla Hearp both hurt the Roadrunners. Brooks had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Brooks also recorded three steals. Hearp scored 10 and pulled down five rebounds — all of them on the offensive end.

Also, Pirates guard Taylor Barner came off the bench and made an impact in defending UTSA’s Hardaway.

Records

East Carolina 14-6, 6-1
UTSA 9-8, 4-2

Coming up

UTSA at Memphis, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Third quarter

Jayla Hearp scored nine points and Savannah Brooks added six in the third period as the Lady Pirates came from a one-point halftime deficit and surged into a a 50-41 lead.

Sanaa Bean. East Carolina beat UTSA 65-58 in American Conference women's basketball on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA freshman forward Sanaa Bean produced four points and two rebounds in 18 minutes. – Photo by Joe Alexander

The Pirates also played stifling defense, forcing the Roadrunners into eight turnovers as they won the period, 25-15.

When the Roadrunners did get a clean look at the hoop, they shot only three of 10 from the field.

First half

Despite making 15 turnovers in the half and playing without Rowe, the UTSA Roadrunners ran into the dressing room with a 26-25 lead on the East Carolina Lady Pirates.

Damara Allen led the Roadrunners with 10 points, including two of their four 3-pointers. Three-point shooting was a key for the ‘Runners as they hit four of five in the half. They also shot nine of 16 from the field.

Another promising sign for UTSA was its defense on guard Fauntleroy, who was held scoreless after averaging 23 points a game over her last three. Fauntleroy shot zero for two from the field and made five turnovers.

East Carolina’s best weapon was its full-court press, which forced UTSA into nine second-quarter turnovers.

Trailing by eight early in the game, the Pirates used the press to flip the momentum. They took a 17-16 lead on a Rembert jumper with 6:01 left in the half.

UTSA immediately regained the lead when the Roadrunners beat pressure and fed Allen, who hit a three out of the corner.

Jayda Holiman made another trey a few minutes later, expanding UTSA’s advantage to 25-21. Rembert knocked down a triple with 41 seconds left to tie the score. UTSA center Emilia Dannebauer hit a free throw with 10 seconds left for the final point.

Notable

UTSA forward Cheyenne Rowe sat out the game with an illness. She is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 12.9 points and 8.8 rebounds. Rowe had started and played all 16 games for the Roadrunners.

Idara Udo. East Carolina beat UTSA 65-58 in American Conference women's basketball on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA forward Idara Udo has been out for seven games with a lower leg injury but went through some shooting drills Tuesday afternoon before the team warmups. – Photo Joe Alexander.

The Roadrunners had six other players sitting out, five of whom haven’t played this season. Idara Udo, who has been out for the past seven games, played the first 10 and averaged 8.1 points and 7.2 rebounds.

Before pre-game warmups, Udo was on the floor shooting the ball, a positive sign for the team.

Maya Linton, Nyayongah Gony, Saher Alizada, Sema Udo and Taylor Ross are the others who have not played this season.

Gony, Sema Udo and Ross are out for the season, while Idara Udo, Linton and Alizada were listed as out for the game, according to the official availability report.

Cheyenne Rowe’s availability in question for East Carolina

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Update: UTSA forward Cheyenne Rowe is listed as questionable to play against East Carolina, according to the player availability report. A spokesman said Rowe is ill. She is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 12.9 points and 8.8 rebounds. Rowe has started and played all 16 games for the Roadrunners.

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

In the 2022-23 season, the East Carolina Lady Pirates were picked for the cellar in the American Conference women’s basketball race, and coach Kim McNeill proceeded to lead them to the NCAA tournament.

Last fall, coaches in the American pegged them in a preseason poll for a seventh-place finish.

Don’t look now, but the Lady Pirates are tied for second and challenging for the lead coming into a showdown Tuesday night in the Convocation Center against the defending conference champion UTSA Roadrunners.

Moreover, they’re incoming with one of the hottest players in the American, point guard Kennedy Fauntleroy. An Arizona State transfer, Fauntleroy is averaging 23 points and 7.7 assists in her last three games.

“They’re the leading scoring team in the conference,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said on a media zoom conference Monday. “So, start right there. They have a plethora of people that can score the basketball (and) they have a tremendous point guard (in Fauntleroy).”

Aston said the Lady Pirates are always well prepared under McNeill and also may have some intangibles working for them this season.

“I can’t speak for her by any means,” Aston said, “but they look like they have really good chemistry, and they look like they’re having fun playing the game. So, you have to start with that. We’re going to have to be really, really good on our home court.

“We’re going to have to have a sense of urgency with how we play. But, it’s not going to be easy. They turn you over and they score the ball really well. They’re one of the better teams in the conference regardless of what they were chosen.”

East Carolina averages an American-best 73.7 points and shoots 40 percent from the field. The Pirates also force 20 turnovers per game and register a league-best plus 5.68 turnover margin.

UTSA is expected to counter with the conference’s best defense, both in points and field goal percentage allowed (57.9 points and 36.8 percent).

Records

East Carolina 13-6, 5-1
UTSA 9-7, 4-1

Coming up

East Carolina at UTSA, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
UTSA at Memphis, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Notable

The Rice Owls lead the American women’s basketball race with a 5-0 record, followed by East Carolina and South Florida at 5-1. Tulsa and UTSA are next at 4-1.

The Lady Pirates, playing at home last week, played well in defeating Tulsa 79-48 and Temple 81-65. In the Temple game, East Carolina led by two going into the fourth quarter when the 5-foot-7 Fauntleroy exploded for 13 of her 27 points.

The native of Upper Marlboro, Md., also finished with eight assists, three steals and two blocks. Fauntleroy, who averages 13.8 a game, has exploded 21, 21 and 27 points in her last three games, respectively.

The Roadrunners traveled to play two in Florida last week. They were humbled in Tampa by the South Florida Bulls, 70-53, after trailing by 25 at halftime. In response, they routed the Florida Atlantic Owls, 79-42.

Aston said the development of sophomore forward Emilia Dannebauer has been “incredible” to watch.

After playing only 22 minutes in eight games last year, she’s already played 276 minutes in all 16 games thus far, averaging 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds. She scored a season-high 13 points last week at South Florida.

Aston said even though Dannebauer didn’t play much last season, the 6-foot-4 native of Germany learned about the pace and physicality of the game and what she needed to do to prepare herself.

She overcame an injury last summer, got herself ready to play in the fall and then stepped in to a starter’s role when Idara Udo was hurt after 10 games.

“It’s been fun to watch her develop and gain confidence,” Aston said.