By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
The UTSA women’s basketball team traveled to Kansas to play the last-place Wichita State Shockers on Saturday, intent on generating momentum by picking up a victory in their fifth-to-last, regular-season game.
The Shockers had other ideas entirely, breaking open a close battle behind Jaila Harding in the third quarter and then holding on to defeat the defending conference champions, 62-61, at Koch Arena.
For the Roadrunners, it was a humbling experience, losing for the third time this season against a bottom-of-the-pack team in the American Conference.
It was also frustrating. They trailed by 10 with seven minutes remaining and made a furious charge that brought them to within one in the final 40 seconds.
After a Damara Allen basket pulled UTSA within the final score, the Roadrunners made a defensive stop. Going for the win, they pushed it up the court, with guard Ereauna Hardaway on the dribble.
When she dribbled into the key, Hardaway went up for the shot, but it was blocked by Jaida McDonald as time expired.
Harding, a graduate transfer from New Mexico State, led the Shockers with 19 points. She had 12 in the third quarter as her team started to take control of the game. Abby Cater scored 12 and Diamond Richardson 11.
Cheyenne Rowe, UTSA’s leading scorer, contributed 23 for the Roadrunners for her fourth effort in the 20s this season. In the end, it was Rowe leading the comeback, as she notched 12 in the fourth period.
Idara Udo had a double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
The loss, UTSA’s second straight, left the Roadrunners (12-13, 7-7) in sixth place in the American. South Florida and North Texas (both 9-5) sit just ahead of UTSA in the standings.
Charlotte (6-7) is a half game behind going into a game scheduled later Saturday at North Texas.
Ten teams qualify for the American’s postseason event, with the tournament scheduled for March 10-14 in Birmingham. Teams seeded seventh through 10th must win five games in five days to win the title.
The fifth and sixth seeds get a first-round bye and a four-game route to the championship. Teams seeded third and fourth are rewarded with a double bye and can get the title and the NCAA automatic bid with three wins.
Records
UTSA 12-13, 7-7
Wichita State 6-21, 3-11
Coming up
UTSA at North Texas, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
First half
In the first half, UTSA played a more physical style and dominated in rebounding, 23-12. But Wichita State scored eight points off 18 turnovers. By intermission, the teams went into intermission tied, 24-24.
For the Roadrunners, forward Rowe led with seven points, while Udo scored six and pulled down nine rebounds. Harding scored seven points to lead the Shockers.
Forward Treasure Thompson scored five points in the half as the Shockers outscored the Roadrunners in bench points, 11-0.
First quarter
They Roadrunners didn’t play their best in the first quarter, but they did emerge with a 12-11 lead when forward Rowe hit a long jumper from the top of the key at the buzzer.
Forward Mia Hammonds contributed six points in the period, getting one bucket on a driving layup off the fast break and also hitting four for four at the free-throw line.
The Shockers played well defensively, holding the Roadrunners to four of 13 shooting from the field and forcing four turnovers. Jaila Harding had four points in the period.
Second quarter
Wichita State continued to play with aggression defensively, forcing a spate of turnovers in the first few minutes of the second quarter.
Later, UTSA went through a two-minute scoring drought.
When Harding and Diamond Richardson knocked down back-to-back three pointers, the Shockers had their largest lead of the game at 24-20. UTSA responded with tough play under the boards.
Offensive rebounds led to the Roadrunners’ last two baskets, one by Udo and the other by Rowe, to tie the score.
Third quarter
Harding hit three 3-point baskets and exploded for 12 points in the third period as Wichita State took control of the game, 49-40.
Playing big strong in the rebounding department, the Shockers outscored the Roadrunners, 25-16 in the quarter.
Near the end of the period, guard Diamond Richardson made plays on both ends of the floor to blunt UTSA’s momentum.
After foiling a breakaway layup, she emerged on the other to hit a layup for a four-point swing.
Notable
The Roadrunners have had difficult experiences in their past two games against teams in the bottom tier of the American Conference standings. On Jan. 23, UTSA lost 52-40 at the Memphis Tigers. On Feb. 3, UTSA fell 81-69 to the UAB Blazers in Birmingham.
UTSA will play at North Texas on Tuesday, facing a team that probably wants some payback. Cheyenne Rowe produced 27 points and 11 rebounds as the Roadrunners defeated the Mean Green 66-64 in San Antonio on Jan. 28.