San Antonio’s Sahara Jones boosts Texas A&M to victory, 55-51 over UTSA

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

San Antonio’s Sahara Jones scored five of her team-high 16 points in the last four minutes Thursday to lead the Texas A&M Aggies in their 55-51 victory over the UTSA Roadrunners.

In the Aggies’ second game of the season and the Roadrunners’ season opener, Jones, an A&M graduate senior from Veterans Memorial High School, hit five of 10 shots from the field and also played a solid floor game.

She had six rebounds, two assists and a steal for the Aggies, who won their first game of the season and improved to 1-1. In crunch time, Jones scored five of her points in the final 3:41 when the outcome of a tense struggle was hanging in the balance.

Jordyn Jenkins led UTSA with 18 points and 11 rebounds. But UTSA didn’t get too many other players involved as A&M did a good job defensively on the other scoring threats. In the end, the Aggies held the Roadrunners to 33.9 percent shooting from the field

UTSA had a particularly tough day behind the 3-point arc, hitting only 3 of 16 from long distance. For the Roadrunners, it was a heartbreaker that played out in front of 5,000 school kids in College Station, at Texas A&M’s Reed Arena.

Trailing by four points at intermission after a defensive struggle, the Roadrunners caught a spark in the third period. They opened the quarter with an 11-0 run. When Sidney Love hit a pull-up jumper with 5:56 left, UTSA held a 33-26 lead.

At that point, it looked like the Roadrunners might be able to beat a power conference opponent for the first time in 14 years.

But after having a three-seconds call go against UTSA, A&M guard Janae Kent hit a three to spark a 14-5 run to the end of the period. Jones scored seven points in the run for the Aggies, who took a 40-38 lead into the fourth quarter.

UTSA kept battling, and had multiple opportunities down the stretch. Two free throws by Jordyn Jenkins gave the Roadrunners a 44-42 lead with 5:34 remaining.

From there, A&M started to make all the big plays, with guard Taliyah Parker burying a three, lifting the Aggies into a one-point lead. They would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way.

The Roadrunners had a chance going into the final three and a half minutes but couldn’t pull it off. Jenkins grabbed an offensive rebound off a free-throw miss and put it back to tie the game. Her bucket knotted the score 48-48 with 3:23 remaining.

On the other end, Jones hit a driving layup for A&M.

UTSA responded by setting up in the offense but couldn’t get a good shot, with Idara Udo missing from the perimeter. Parker, in turn, responded with a couple of free throws as the Aggies pushed the lead to four.

UTSA had perhaps its last breath of life when Siena Guttadauro drilled a three off an assist from Jenkins. As Guttadauro’s shot hit the bottom of the net, A&M’s lead had been trimmed to 52-51 with 1:53 remaining.

Once again, however, Jones answered for the Aggies

Her driving layup boosted A&M into a 54-51 lead. The Roadrunners, who missed a couple of free throws that could have made it a one-point game with 15 seconds left, never got any closer.

For the Aggies, who play in the Southeastern Conference, one of four power conferences in NCAA Division I, it was a bounce-back win after losing at home Monday to Texas A&M. UTSA, picked to finish fifth in the American Athletic Conference, will return home to play UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday.

Records

UTSA 0-1
Texas A&M 1-1

Coming up

UT Rio Grande Valley at UTSA, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners had a chance but fell short, extending their losing streak against power conference programs to 24 games. Coach Karen Aston, in her fourth season, is now 0-8 against teams from the NCAA Division I conferences that generate the most revenue. UTSA hasn’t won a game against a power program since Dec. 16, 2010, when they beat the Big 12’s Kansas State Wildcats, 72-55, at home in the Convocation Center.

Quotable

“I thought we played hard,” Aston said on the team’s radio broadcast. “I don’t think it was that we didn’t play hard or didn’t want to win. So I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed for the kids. But they just executed some things better down the stretch than we did.”

Speaking to UTSA radio voice Neal Raphael, Aston continued: “(They) got to the free-throw line more than we did. It hurt us in the first half. Got out-rebounded. That’s not normal for our team. Free throws ended up being a little bit closer, but we just didn’t shoot the ball great today.

“They were just a little bit, I don’t want to say tougher … But in some moments, they were just a little bit tougher at getting where they wanted to get on the floor than we were.”

Aston acknowledged that A&M’s defense made it difficult for players other than Jenkins to find a rhythm.

“For sure, and we’ll find that,” she said. “You know, it’s a new team. New chemistry … A lot of players are playing different roles on the team. We’ve got to be able to establish those and figure out who we can count on in different moments. That’s going to take some time, I think.”

The Aggies out-rebounded the Roadrunners, 40-37. Offensive rebounds were tied, 15-15. But it seemed that the Aggies made the most of opportunities at critical times.

For instance, when A&M’s Sole’ Williams misfired on a jumper with a little less than five minutes remaining, Parker snared the offensive board. The play led to 6-foot-5 center Lauren Ware’s put back for a two-point A&M lead.

“I just thought they did a better job down the stretch,” Aston said.

Individuals

UTSA — Jenkins, the team’s starting power forward, scored 18 points on seven of 15 shooting. Guard Sidney Love added 10 points and Siena Guttadauro eight. Idara Udo, Cheyenne Rowe and 6-foot-4 newcomer Nyayongah Gony all had tough nights offensively. Combined, they were 1 for 12 from the floor and scored three points. Point guard Nina De Leon Negron had four points and one assist. Playing 20 minutes, De Leon Negron suffered an injury late in the third quarter. She was lifted with a minute remaining in the third and didn’t play in the fourth.

Texas A&M – Jones scored 16 points on five of 10 shooting, including one of three from long distance. She made five of eight at the line. Returning all SEC second-team player Aicha Coulibaly was held to eight points on three of nine shooting, but she had seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Forward Jada Malone had six points and six boards, while center Lauren Ware had five points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

San Antonio-area talent fills NCAA Division I women’s basketball rosters

Tulane Amira Mabry

Amira Mabry, a Tulane University junior from Judson High School, is one of at least 25 San Antonio-area athletes on NCAA Division I women’s basketball rosters. She averaged 11.4 points and six rebounds last year for the Green Wave. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

On the eve of a new season starting Monday, I’m sorting through NCAA Division I women’s college basketball rosters, and I’m detecting a wave of talent from the San Antonio area — at least 25 players who grew up in this area — now playing at the highest level.

There are many more local athletes in Division II and Division III programs.

But the influx of players from the local area in Division I women’s college hoops is undeniable. Nine of the players are competing in high major programs, in the so-called power conferences, according to my annual research project.

Of those nine, the most accomplished returning to the college game this season would include Deja Kelly at Oregon, Sahara Jones at Texas A&M, Aaliyah Roberson (TCU) and Carleigh Wenzel (Virginia Tech).

Sidney Love. UTSA beat Northern Colorado 80-62 in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Sidney Love, a UTSA junior from Steele High School, is one of five players on the Roadrunners’ roster from the San Antonio area. Love has started for UTSA coach Karen Aston since she was a freshman. – File photo by Joe Alexander

In high school, Kelly played briefly at Johnson before moving on to Duncanville. Jones came out of Veterans Memorial while Roberson prepped at Clark and Wenzel at both O’Connor and Antonian.

Kelly is turning the page on her career this season, playing for the Ducks after four seasons as a key member of the North Carolina Tar Heels. At Carolina, she bagged three straight, first-team, all-conference honors.

Jones, meanwhile, is returning for a fifth season with the Aggies. In the past two seasons, she has played 55 games and started 51, including 32 starts last year.

Roberson, whose younger sister Arianna is highly-touted freshman at Duke, sitting out the season with a knee injury, has quietly started to build an impressive record with the Horned Frogs.

Last season, as a sophomore, she averaged a career-high 10.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks and started at center for the team’s final 17 games.

Wenzel, meanwhile, established herself at Virginia Tech, playing 33 games as a redshirt freshman and coming on strong in the NCAA tournament. In an NCAA first-round victory, she came off the bench to produce 12 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two blocks.

A strong class of freshman includes Duke’s Arianna Roberson (from Clark), Southern Cal’s Rian Forrestier (Brandeis), along with the UTSA duo of Taylor Ross (Brennan) and Mia Hammonds (Steele).

Arianna Roberson will miss the upcoming season after sustaining a knee injury while competing at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, according to an announcement by Duke athletics on Sept. 5. Roberson arrived at Duke as a five-star recruit and the 19th-rated prospect in the 2024 class.

Locally, UTSA has tapped into the local talent base with five players from the San Antonio area, which is believed to be the most of any team in the nation. The five include Sidney Love (Steele), Alexis Parker (Brandeis), Aysia Proctor (Clemens), Hammonds and Ross.

Note: Here’s my list. It’s likely not complete. But, it’s just my best attempt to keep track of the city’s best players that have gone off to college. I’ll update it as soon as any new information comes to light.

San Antonio area athletes in NCAA Division I

Women’s basketball

Averi Aaron, Louisiana Tech, 6-1 freshman forward from Boerne

Hailey Adams, Rice, 6-1 redshirt sophomore guard from Clark

Kendall Beck, Houston Baptist, 6-2 freshman forward from San Marcos Panthers home school (hometown San Antonio)

Myra Bell, Incarnate Word, 5-10 grad student guard from Taft

Rian Forestier, Southern Cal, 5-11 freshman guard from Brandeis

Jaylin Foster, Texas State, 6-0 senior forward from Steele

Mia Hammonds, UTSA, 6-3 freshman guard from Steele

Natalie Huff, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 5-7 freshman guard from Clark

Vivian Iwuchukwu, Southern Cal, 6-3 freshman forward from Cole, also Montverde, Fla.

Sahara Jones, Texas A&M, 6-0 grad student guard from Veterans Memorial

Ja’Shelle Johnson, UT Rio Grande Valley, 5-4 sophomore guard from Johnson

Deja Kelly, Oregon, 5-8 grad student guard from Johnson, Duncanville; transfer from North Carolina

Sidney Love, UTSA, 5-8 junior guard from Steele

Amira Mabry, Tulane, 6-0 junior forward from Judson

Bird Martin, Texas Tech, 6-2 freshman guard from Providence

Alexis Parker, UTSA, 5-9 junior guard from Brandeis

Faith Phillips, UT Rio Grande Valley, 5-11 guard from San Marcos; transfer from St. Mary’s

Brenna Perez, Incarnate Word, 6-0 grad student forward from Veterans Memorial

Aysia Proctor, UTSA, 5-8 sophomore guard from Clemens

Arianna Roberson, Duke, 6-4 freshman center from Clark

Aaliyah Roberson, TCU, 6-2 junior forward from Clark

Taylor Ross, UTSA, 6-0 freshman forward from Brennan

Tiffany Tullis, Houston Christian, 5-11 senior forward from Cornerstone; transfer from Texas State, also Blinn JC

Sammie Wagner, Oregon, 6-1 redshirt sophomore guard-forward from Reagan

Carleigh Wenzel, Virginia Tech, 6-0 redshirt sophomore guard from O’Connor and Antonian

Women’s basketball: UTSA leads D-I programs with four players from the S.A. area

Aysia Proctor at UTSA women's basketball practice on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Aysia Proctor is a UTSA freshman from Clemens High School. The Roadrunners open the season on the road tonight against the Arizona State Sun Devils. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

With NCAA Division I women’s basketball programs starting play today, it’s time to take a look at players from the San Antonio area.

Notably, I see that Carleigh Wenzel from O’Connor will be active at Virginia Tech this season after sitting out as a redshirt last year. Virginia Tech is one of the strongest programs in the nation, coming off a run to the Final Four. In addition, Deja Kelly, formerly of Johnson High School, is playing as a senior at North Carolina. Other SA-area players in so-called power conference programs include Texas A&M’s Sahara Jones, from Veterans Memorial, and TCU’s Aaliyah Roberson, from Clark. UTSA has assembled a strong contingent of four local players in Kyra White (Judson), Sidney Love (Steele), Alexis Parker (Brandeis) and Aysia Proctor (Clemens).

As usual, we’ll close by noting that this likely isn’t a list of every San Antonio female athlete playing at the highest level. But it’s gleaned partially from lists that I’ve published for a few years now, so, take it for what it’s worth. Naturally, I’ll update when new information comes to light.

San Antonio area athletes in NCAA Division I women’s basketball:

Hailey Adams, Rice, 6-1 guard, redshirt freshman from Clark HS

Myra Bell, UIW, 5-10 guard, senior from Taft HS

Layla Conley, Rice, 5-8 guard, freshman from Harlan HS

Jaylin Foster, Texas State, 6-0 forward, from Steele HS, transfer from Western Kentucky

Sahara Jones, Texas A&M, 6-0 guard, senior from Veterans Memorial

Sidney Love, UTSA, 5-8 guard, a sophomore from Steele HS

Ja’Shelle Johnson, UT Rio Grande Valley, a freshman from Johnson HS

Deja Kelly, North Carolina, 5-8 guard, a senior from San Antonio Johnson HS and Duncanville HS

Amira Mabry, Tulane, 6-0 forward, a sophomore from Judson HS

Aaliyah McMillan, UT Rio Grande Valley, 5-8 guard, RS sophomore from Steele HS; transfer from UT Arlington

Brenna Perez, UIW, 6-0 forward, senior from Veterans Memorial HS

Alexis Parker, UTSA, 5-9 guard, sophomore from Brandeis

Aysia Proctor, UTSA, 5-8 guard, freshman from Clemens

Tiffany Tullis, Texas State, 5-11 forward, junior from Cornerstone and Blinn College

Aaliyah Roberson, TCU, 6-2 forward, sophomore from Clark

Sammie Wagner, Oregon, 6-1 forward, redshirt freshman from Reagan

Carleigh Wenzel, Virginia Tech, 6-0 guard, redshirt freshman from O’Connor and Antonian

Kyra White, UTSA, 5-9 guard, a senior from Judson; transfer from USC

S. A. area athletes in NCAA Division I women’s basketball

NCAA Division I women’s basketball

Athletes from the San Antonio area

Editor’s note: With practices in NCAA Division I basketball starting this week and next, The JB Replay is taking a look at women from the San Antonio area and where they will play this season. This list likely does not include everyone from the area in Division I. It’ll be updated when any additions come to light. — Thanks, Jerry

Hailey Adams, Rice, 6-1 guard, freshman from Clark HS

Myra Bell, UIW, 5-10 guard, a junior from Taft HS

Aja Holmes, Southern Illinois, 5-8 guard, sophomore from Steele, transfer from TCU

Sahara Jones, Texas A&M, 6-0 guard, junior from Veterans Memorial

Sidney Love, UTSA, 5-8 guard, a freshman from Steele HS

Deja Kelly, North Carolina, 5-8 guard, a junior from San Antonio Johnson HS and Duncanville HS

Amira Mabry, Tulane, 6-0 forward, a freshman from Judson HS

Aaliyah McMillan, UT Rio Grande Valley, a 5-8 guard, RS freshman from Steele; transfer from UT Arlington

Tiffany McGarity, UT Rio Grande Valley, 5-9 guard, junior from Judson HS

Bria McClure, College of Charleston, 5-5 sophomore from Steele HS

Brenna Perez, UIW, 6-0 forward, a junior from Veterans Memorial HS

Alexis Parker, UTSA, 5-9 guard, freshman from Brandeis

Zaya Price, UIW, 5-10 guard, junior from Steele

Aaliyah Roberson, TCU, 6-2 forward, freshman from Clark

Kierra Sanderlin, Houston, 5-7 guard, sophomore from Judson; transfer from Rutgers

Carleigh Wenzel, Virginia Tech, 6-0 guard, freshman from O’Connor and Antonian

Kyra White, UTSA, 5-9 guard, a junior from Judson; transfer from USC