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.