Editor’s note: UTSA Roadrunners guard Sidney Love drills a 3-point shot off a sweet step-back move in the second quarter to cap what is described as a ‘helter-skelter’ possession. Upon review, it looks as if UTSA nearly turned it over three times before Love hit one of her three 3-pointers against the UT Arlington Mavericks.
By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
Guard Sidney Love got knocked down a few times, but she always seemed to get back up and make a play. Love produced 21 points and four assists Thursday afternoon, leading the UTSA Roadrunners to a 76-61 victory over the UT Arlington Mavericks.
Jordyn Jenkins scored 14 points and Idara Udo 10 as the Roadrunners bounced back from Monday’s loss at Stanford and improved to 8-2 on the season, including 4-0 at home. It is the first 8-2 start for the UTSA women since the 1997-98 season.
To cap a busy week, the Roadrunners will play Saturday in San Marcos against the Texas State Bobcats. It’ll be their final non-conference game before starting play in The American on Dec. 29 at Charlotte.
Love, a junior from San Antonio-area Steele High School, put on a master-class performance against the Mavericks.
She hit eight of 10 shots from the field and hit three of three from 3-point range. Despite pressure from the UT Arlington defenders, Love made only one turnover.
Koi Love (no relation to Sidney) led the Mavericks with 17 points and seven rebounds.
First half
For Sidney Love, the first half was an adventure.
Not only did she have 12 points to lead the Roadrunners, she also had four assists and a hand in one crazy play early in the second quarter. Skidding on the floor after she was bumped off balance, she gained control and then fired — still on her side — a cross court pass through traffic.
At that point, the Roadrunners tossed another pass high over the defense and into the corner, where it was saved from going out of bounds. The ball ended up in Love’s hands near the top of the arc, where she lined up a three and drilled it.
Records
UT Arlington 4-6
UTSA 8-2
Coming up
UTSA at Texas State, Saturday, noon
x-UTSA at Charlotte, Dec. 29, 1 p.m.
x-American Athletic Conference opener
Notable
Sophomore guard Aysia Proctor made her regular-season debut for the Roadrunners against the Mavericks. Playing point guard, she had two assists and a turnover in eight minutes. Proctor, a starter at shooting guard last season, took two shots and missed both. Before the start of the season, she stepped away from the team to deal with what Coach Karen Aston described as “off-court challenges.”