By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
Jordyn Jenkins on Thursday night produced her second double double of the season, exploding for 27 points and 11 rebounds, as the UTSA Roadrunners downed the New Mexico State Aggies, 75-61.
Nina De Leon Negron had 14 points and three assists for the Roadrunners, who won their first road game of the year and improved to 2-1. Despite a shaky start because of foul trouble, center Idara Udo scored 11 on four of five shooting for UTSA.
Nina De Leon Negron hit four of UTSA’s nine 3-point field goals. . The Roadrunners made nine of 18 for the game, improving the team to 38.8 percent accuracy on the season. – File photo by Joe Alexander
Not known as a three-point shooting team, the Roadrunners knocked down nine of 18 from outside the arc. De Leon Negron, who sat out UTSA’s last game with a heel injury, made four treys on five attempts.
Guard Molly Kaiser had 23 points, four assists and four steals for the Aggies, who fell to 2-1. Forward Fanta Gassama, who was averaging 18 points and 15 rebounds entering the game, was held to 11 points and nine rebounds.
The Roadrunners played tough defense down the stretch, holding New Mexico State to one field goal in the final 7 minutes and 58 seconds.
A wild sequence ensued just after the start of the fourth quarter. The teams combined to hit four straight three-point shots in the first 1:13.
First, De Leon Negron hit for UTSA. Next, Emma Desovich answered for New Mexico State. On the next trip, Udo — UTSA’s starting center — set her feet at the top of the circle and knocked one down. Undeterred, Desovich made another one for the Aggies.
New Mexico State had some momentum at that point, and Kaiser hit a shot to bring the home team to within four points. In retaliation, UTSA pulled away with a 13-3 run to the buzzer.
Jenkins started the spree with a three, and then she broke away for a fast break layup to open the lead to 67-58. New Mexico State never got closer than seven the rest of the way.
Records
UTSA 2-1
New Mexico State 2-1
Coming up
UTSA at UTEP, Saturday, noon
Notable
Through only three games, UTSA’s 3-point field goal accuracy is a robust 38.8 percent. The Roadrunners have made 19 of 49 on the season. In their last two games, wins over UT Rio Grande Valley and New Mexico State, they have hit a combined 16 of 33 for 48.4 percent. Last year, the Roadrunners ranked near the bottom of the American Athletic Conference in shooting from distance, making 162 of 554 for 29.2 percent.
Quotable
“This is a good road win. I thought they would be tough to beat, and they were.” — UTSA coach Karen Aston, on the team’s radio broadcast.
First half
Holding off a surge by the New Mexico State Aggies in the second quarter, the UTSA Roadrunners hit a couple of three-pointers in the last six minutes to take a 39-33 lead into intermission.
Jordyn Jenkins had 12 points early in the game and the Roadrunners knocked down three threes in the first quarter to go ahead 25-16 after one period.
In response, the Aggies picked up their defense, started to play the passing lanes and forced turnovers to fuel an offense that brought them to within one.
A steal and fast break layup by Anna Czenyi trimmed UTSA’s lead to 34-33 with 2:57 remaining.
New Mexico State continued to scrap, getting a couple of offensive rebounds on an ensuing possession. But in the end, the Aggies turned it over themselves.
UTSA capitalized on its next two possessions. First, Sidney Love drove the left side for a layup with 1:08 remaining. Next, De Leon Negron buried a three for a 39-33 lead.