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UTSA turns up the defensive pressure and downs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 62-43

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Nina De Leon Negron. UTSA beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 62-43 in non-conference women's basketball on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Graduate senior Nina De Leon Negron tied Jordyn Jenkins with 16 points as the Roadrunners won their fourth straight game. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

With most of their shots clanging off the rim, the UTSA Roadrunners turned to a couple of old staples — defense and rebounding — to down the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 62-43 in women’s college basketball Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.

As a result, the Roadrunners improved to 4-1, winning four of their first five games in a season against Division I opponents for the first time since 2007-08. That year, the Roadrunners went 23-10 and reached the NCAA tournament.

Karen Aston. UTSA beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 62-43 in non-conference women's basketball on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Karen Aston’s Roadrunners play next week in Puerto Rico, on Thursday against UNC Greensboro and on Friday against Towson. – Photo by Joe Alexander

The Islanders, with early road wins over Texas A&M and Texas State, lost their second straight and fell to 3-2.

Afterward, Roadrunners coach Karen Aston talked about her respect for the Islanders and coach Royce Chadwick, who led his team to the NCAA tournament last year. She also said she felt like the Roadrunners played “really solid” defensively.

“Didn’t shoot the ball great,” Aston said. “I think we’ve been shooting it better and we are a lot better shooting team than we shot tonight. But I think sometimes that happens. I was most proud of the way we buckled down defensively.

“You know, you have to do that sometimes when the ball’s not going in the hole. We offensive rebounded really well. Pretty good team effort.”

On a night when the UTSA offense went cold with 31.9 percent shooting, Nina De Leon Negron and Jordyn Jenkins led the Roadrunners with 16 points each. De Leon Negron also had three assists and two steals. Jenkins, held to six of 15 from the field, had seven rebounds, four blocks and five steals.

Jenkins entered the game averaging 23.5 points, good for a tie for 11th in the nation. She averaged 28.5 points in wins last week at New Mexico State and UTEP but couldn’t get it going offensively until late in the game.

In the first half, Jenkins missed her first six shot attempts and finally hit one at the end. In the third quarter, she shot two for four from the floor. In the fourth, when the game’s pace quickened as UTSA forced the tempo, she was three for four.

“Whenever shots aren’t falling for me, or whatever, I try to just not let it get in my head and just know that they’re eventually going to fall,” Jenkins said. “Like, you can’t go zero percent unless you stop shooting.

“So I just have to think more and be more logical with my shots whenever I’m being doubled. Maybe catching in the post and throwing out or just try to get more assists and more rebounds. That’ll also get me points.”

De Leon Negron, a newcomer who transferred in the offseason from Incarnate Word, won the “Cash In” gold chain, a team award for playing well and reaping the fruits of your hard work in practice.

Jordyn Jenkins. UTSA beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 62-43 in non-conference women's basketball on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Forward Jordyn Jenkins, who on Monday earned national player of the week mention from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, scored 16 points against the Islanders. She also had seven rebounds, four blocks and five steals. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“This is fun,” she said. “It’s really different to where I was at. I can say that for sure. It’s a different environment … Our teammates, they make the game so much (more fun). When we’re down, we’re like, ‘Let’s pick it up. We’re better than this.’ I don’t know. It’s just fun.”

Defensively, the Roadrunners humbled the Islanders in the second half, holding the visitors to 12 points on 5 for 21 shooting. A&M-Corpus Christi, leading 31-30 at intermission, was promptly stifled in the third quarter and held to three points.

UTSA dominated the rebounding battle all night, sending Idara Udo and Maya Linton to the glass and finishing with a 54-29 advantage. The Roadrunners out-rebounded the visitors 30-8 on the offensive glass. Udo had 10 rebounds, nine on the offensive end. Linton finished with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Forward Paige Allen led the Islanders with 10 points and six rebounds.

Third quarter

Stepping up the defense and crashing the boards, the Roadrunners held the Islanders to 1 of 11 shooting, forced 10 turnovers and carried a 48-34 lead into the final period.

With Idara Udo and Maya Linton on the boards, Sidney Love scored six points and Jordyn Jenkins five in the quarter.

First half

Trailing by 11 points in the first six minutes of the game, the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders packed in their defense, forced the UTSA Roadrunners to take outside shots and watched them, mostly, clang harmlessly off the rim. As a result, the Islanders gained momentum and rallied into a 31-30 advantage at intermission.

Guard Jaeda Whitner led the Islanders offensively with nine points on three treys. Forward Paige Allen shook off a slow start and scored six points. Mireia Aguado, playing the role of distributor, passed for four assists.

Defensively, the Islanders did an admirable job on Jordyn Jenkins and limited the Roadrunners to 30.3 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from the 3-point arc.

Jenkins, who received national player of the week recognition on Monday, missed her first six shots from the field and finished one for seven. She managed only four points. Nina De Leon Negron, who had 10 first-half points, did most of her damage early as UTSA took a 14-3 lead.

Records

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3-2
UTSA 4-1

Coming up

UTSA vs. UNC Greensboro, Nov. 28, at Puerto Rico
UTSA vs. Towson, Nov. 29, at Puerto Rico

Notable

UTSA entered the game on a hot streak, shooting 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range. They shot 23 of 72 from the field for a season-low 31.9 percent against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, a veteran team that won 23 games last year and played in the NCAA tournament. UTSA’s previous low field goal percentage game came in the season opener at College Station, against Texas A&M, when the Roadrunners shot 33.9.

Banner reminder: UTSA women aiming for greater heights

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Maya Linton. UTSA beat South Florida 65-42 in American Athletic Conference women's basketball on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Maya Linton and the UTSA Roadrunners host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders, a 23-win NCAA tournament team from last year, tonight at the Convocation Center. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Maya Linton, one of Coach Karen Aston’s third-year UTSA veterans, said Tuesday that she looks at the program’s new 2024 WNIT banner hanging on the north wall of the Convocation Center as a sign of progress.

A reminder that hard work pays dividends.

But as the Roadrunners prepare to host the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders tonight, she said the banner unfurled earlier this month has become more of a reminder to her that the team still needs to keep grinding away to achieve the ultimate goal.

Jordyn Jenkins. 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

UTSA forward Jordyn Jenkins averaged 28.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in two road wins last week to earn mention as a national player of the week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. – File photo by Joe Alexander

“It’s like, ‘OK, so we can play (in the) postseason,’ ” Linton said. “But, we want to get to where we want to be … and that is in the (NCAA) tournament. We want to go bigger (than the WNIT). We want to go up another level.”

After a season-opening road loss to Texas A&M, the Roadrunners (3-1) have won three in a row to stir their long-range dreams, while the Islanders (also 3-1) have won enough games this season and in the last few to know they can play the role of spoiler.

Last season, the Roadrunners beat the Islanders, 66-59, in overtime in Corpus Christi. It was a game that the Islanders led by 15 points in the third quarter and by 11 entering the fourth, only to see it slip away.

So, tonight’s visitors in San Antonio will have plenty of reasons to play hard.

They also probably have the firepower to win, as well, with the likes of Mireia Aguado and Paige Allen returning from last year’s Southland Conference postseason champions.

Aguado and Allen led an Islanders team that forged a 23-9 record, won the SLC postseason crown and claimed the conference’s coveted NCAA berth.

The two have also sparked early-season victories over Texas A&M and Texas State on the road. The only loss for the Islanders has come in another road test against the 17th-ranked Baylor Bears.

UTSA, behind redshirt senior forward Jordyn Jenkins, is also playing well. After losing by four at A&M, the Roadrunners have knocked off the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros at home, followed last week by road victories against the New Mexico State Aggies and the UTEP Miners.

Jenkins, named as one of five athletes to share national players of the week honors by the U.S Basketball Writers Association, is averaging 23.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. Her supporting cast is also coming on strong.

On Saturday, the Roadrunners trailed by 11 at halftime and went on a 26-10 run in the third quarter. In the 10-minute period, Jenkins scored 11 points. Also coming alive was Linton, who averaged 3.9 points last season. She had eight in the quarter, including a pair of three-pointers.

Playing small forward this year after working as a post player the past two seasons, she finished the game with 12 points, two assists, a blocked shot and a steal. Linton hit five of eight from the field, including two of three from outside the 3-point arc.

Saying she is “way more confident than last year,” she has embraced the change in position.

“It’s very different, just because I’m getting more touches,” she said. “It’s just how I capitalize off them. Defensive-wise, I’m guarding more guards, faster people. So, it’s different for me. But it’s fine. I’m gritty. I like playing defense.”

UTSA coaches preached defense and rebounding this week, hoping to shore up a couple of areas of concern. Perimeter defense, in particular, has been a problem as opponents are shooting 46 percent from the 3-point arc against the Roadrunners.

So far, it hasn’t hurt the team too much, just because Jenkins has been so dominant, and because the UTSA offense is hitting high percentages, as well. The point guard play of Sidney Love and Nina De Leon Negron has helped the team shoot 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from three.

De Leon Negron said Jenkins is deserving of the national accolades.

“I feel like not everyone sees how good she can be,” she said. “I know she scores and everyone goes, ‘Whoa, she’s a really good scorer.’ But she does little things that people don’t see, like defensively, when she talks.”

De Leon Negron, a transfer from Incarnate Word, said hearing Jenkins’ calling out keys on the court is important. “Just having that voice as a post player, like, not every team has that,” she said. “We have that. (And) if we keep getting better at it, we can be elite. Playing with her is so good. It makes everyone’s life so much better.”

Records

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3-1
UTSA 3-1

Coming up

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at UTSA, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
UTSA vs. UNC Greensboro, Nov. 28, 10 a.m., at San Juan Puerto Rico
UTSA vs. Towson, Nov. 29, 1 p.m., at San Juan, Puerto Rico

Notable

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, a member of the Southland Conference, has won 19, 19 and 23 games over the past three seasons, respectively. Last year, the Islanders finished in a tie for second in the SLC regular season at 14-4 and then won the postseason title to reach the NCAA tournament. Royce Chadwick is in his 13th year as coach.

Little Rock clamps down defensively in an 81-64 victory over short-handed UTSA

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Marcus Millender. UTSA men's basketball lost to Little Rock 81-64 on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Marcus ‘Smurf’ Millender had 12 points and three steals Saturday against the Little Rock Trojans. — Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The Little Rock Trojans entered the UTSA Convocation Center Saturday coming off two straight unsightly road losses.

They made sure it didn’t happen again, rolling to second-half leads as large as 20 and 22 points, before holding off the Roadrunners 81-64.

Arguably, Little Rock won the game on the defensive end, limiting UTSA to 30 percent shooting, blocking nine shots and forcing 17 turnovers.

Austin Claunch. UTSA men's basketball lost to Little Rock 81-64 on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Austin Claunch’s Roadrunners played Saturday without starters Raekwon Horton and Damari Monsanto. Without explaining why they didn’t play, Claunch said the team has ‘a standard’ to uphold. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Forward Ante Beljan led Little Rock with a career-high 21 points and guard Mwani Wilkinson scored 19. Also, guards Isaiah Lewis scored 16 and Johnathan Lawson had 15.

Primo Spears finished with 15 to lead the Roadrunners. Marcus Millender added 12, while Naz Mahmoud and Sky Wicks contributed 10 each. The Roadrunners played without forward Raekwon Horton and guards Damari Monsanto and Tai’Reon Joseph.

Joseph is ineligible at the moment, having sat out all three of the Roadrunners’ games. It’s believed he might be out at least another four games before he can return. But the absence of Horton and Monsanto, two starters, came as a surprise.

“We had a couple of guys out,” first-year UTSA coach Austin Claunch said. “Listen, at the end of the day, they’ll be back. We expect all of them back, come Monday. You know, it is what it is. There’s things we want to uphold. There’s a standard we want to uphold.

“Those guys have done it, and at the end of the day, when you don’t do it, there’s certain things (that will happen). You know, it’s a privilege to play at UTSA.”

Claunch didn’t go into detail on why he apparently took actions that left his team short-handed. Instead of specifics, he spoke in his postgame news conference in generalities about how his players “are trying to do something that’s hard … and it gets so frustrating.”

Seated in the interview room flanked by Millender and Mahmoud, Claunch continued, “Sometimes, (players) want to win so bad. These guys sitting next to me and all those guys in the locker room, it takes time, to get to where they want to (go and to realize) the dreams they want to talk about. We talk about winning and cutting down these nets and all that.

“(But) it’s hard to win one game. It’s hard to win one college basketball game.

“And then when you get used to it and you start to get a feel, it becomes a little bit easier each time. But we just got to keep chipping, man. It’s the stone cutter. Right? You don’t ever know. You don’t ever know when the last blow, the last hit, (when) you’re going to find gold over there.”

Records

Little Rock 2-2
UTSA 1-2

Coming up

UTSA at Troy, Ala., Nov. 25
UTSA vs. Merrimack, at Troy, Nov. 27

Halftime

Little Rock entered the game with UTSA coming off losses at Winthrop, S.C., 82-67, and at Arkansas State, 80-63. Sparked by Wilkinson and Beljan, the Trojans surged on a 16-0 run late in the first half to take charge against the Roadrunners.

Primo Spears. UTSA men's basketball lost to Little Rock 81-64 on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Primo Spears led the Roadrunners with 15 points. He’s averaging 20.7 points to lead the team through three games. – Photo by Joe Alexander

After giving up five points to the Roadrunners in the closing few minutes, the Trojans went into the dressing room with a 36-26 intermission lead.

Beljan started the streak, innocently enough, with a free throw. But after that, Little Rock started to roll.

First, Wilkinson hit a three and then Beljan sank a layup. Wilkinson knocked in another three and Beljan followed with another inside move.

Lewis broke loose for a fast break layup and was fouled, and then he hit the free throw. Creed Williamson, the son of former NBA player Corliss Williamson, added a layup with 2:40 remaining for a 36-21 advantage.

Little Rock’s defense limited UTSA to 19 percent shooting (5 of 26) in the first half. UTSA hit 2 of 12 from three. At that juncture, Millender led the Roadrunners with seven points.

For the Trojans, who shot 45 percent from the floor in the half, Lewis had nine points and Lawson eight. Primo Spears, who had scored 47 points combined in the team’s first two games, finished the half with six.

Notable

Little Rock has been without injured star guard Khaleen “KK” Robinson since mid-October and another starter, Jordan Jefferson, sat out against UTSA.

Skylar Wicks. UTSA men's basketball lost to Little Rock 81-64 on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Skylar Wicks produced 10 points and seven rebounds against the Trojans. – Photo by Joe Alexander

The loss of Robinson, a first-team, all-conference player in the Ohio Valley last year, will hurt the Trojans moving forward. He is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

“It happened about two weeks before the season started, we lost our best player,” Trojans coach Darrell Walker said. “We’re still trying to figure our team out, but this was a good road win for us tonight. It really was.”

Walker, in his seventh season at Little Rock, recently received a three-year contract extension. “It’s good to have it, starting off a new season,” he said. “I’m happy that the athletic director had enough belief in me to get it done.”

The Roadrunners started the season on Nov. 4 with a 103-77 victory at home over Division III Trinity University. Their next game, another home date set originally for Nov. 9, was postponed when the visiting the North Dakota Fighting Hawks encountered weather- and travel-related issues.

The two sides have agreed to try and play the makeup on Dec. 13 in San Antonio, but it’s not on the UTSA schedule yet because a contract hasn’t been formalized.

Earlier this week, on Tuesday night, the Roadrunners played their first road game of the season and lost 85-72 to the Bradley Braves. Now, after the loss to the Trojans, UTSA remains winless against NCAA Division I competition at 0-2.

Quotable

“Give Little Rock a lot of credit,” Claunch said. “They out-played us. Out-toughed us. You know, we did some good things early on, again, similar to the Bradley game. And then at some point, they went on that run. We got to be able to withstand those a little bit better.”

Nazar Mahmoud. UTSA men's basketball lost to Little Rock 81-64 on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Nazar Mahmoud scored a career-high 10 points and pulled down six rebounds, including five off the offensive glass. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Once again, shooting woes plagued the Roadrunners, who are hitting 38 percent from the field through their first three games.

“I just thought in the first half we missed some shots that we normally make, and that sort of got us out of rhythm. I mean, we were 10 of 31 from two(-point range). We probably made a couple late. At one point, we had nine field goals with like 15 minutes left in the game. They’re a good shot-blocking team. You look, percentage-wise, they’re top 20 in the country. I just thought we missed a couple of chippies that we normally make.”

In addition, the Trojans hit 52.7 percent from the field, meaning that UTSA is now yielding 51.1 percent per game for the season.

“I was really proud of these guys, coming out today short-handed and battling the way that they did,” Claunch said. “We had to battle through some things today, and when you’re trying to build and work on things, that’s part of it. You know, you got to go through tough days. There’s going to be high days. You don’t get there without the low days. This is certainly not how we wanted to perform at home, in front of our fans.

“Now, the good news is, we have some time, and we get a little over a week to go to Troy and play two really good teams. We didn’t do ourselves any favors (today). It’s not going to get any easier. Troy obviously is picked top two in the Sun Belt (Conference). Merrimack (transitioning into its first season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) has won that (Northeast) league a couple of years. So, we got to be ready to go.”

Jenkins-led UTSA rallies from 11-point deficit to down UTEP, 78-73

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Jordyn Jenkins erupted for 28 points in the second half Saturday as the UTSA Roadrunners, down by 11 at intermission, rallied for a 78-73 victory over the UTEP Miners.

Jenkins, a senior from Kent, Wash., produced a season-high 30 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for her third double double in four games.

With the victory, the Roadrunners swept a two-game road trip. They beat New Mexico State on Thursday night and then came into El Paso for a morning tipoff on Saturday to win again.

The Miners played with a passion in the first half, registering a strong second-quarter performance to take a 38-27 lead at intermission.

Ivane Tensaie led the Miners with 27 points, including seven three-point baskets. The Miners were 9 of 14 from three.

“We didn’t look locked in, in the first half,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said on the postgame radio broadcast. “This reminded me of our exhibition game where we got so many hand-checks (fouls). We just didn’t adjust.

“The refereeing was what it was. I didn’t think, first half, like anybody on the team adjusted. I’d put one in and they’d make the same mistake as someone that was coming out.”

Aston said the Roadrunners played early like a team “that was tired of being on the road trip, ready to get home and thought it was going to be easy. I think it was a lesson learned. Hopefully we’ll be better next time we get into this type of a situation.”

Guard Nina De Leon Negron and forward Maya Linton played well. De Leon Negron had 13 points and eight rebounds. She hit five of 10 shots from the field. Linton scored 12 points on five of eight shooting.

In the third quarter, Jenkins scored 11 points and Linton had eight as the Roadrunners surged on a 26-10 spree that put the Miners on their heels.

Records

UTSA 3-1
UTEP 2-1

Coming up

Texas A&M Corpus-Christi at UTSA, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

UTSA women prepare for early tipoff in El Paso against UTEP

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA women’s basketball team faces a quick turnaround from its last game as it prepares to meet the UTEP Miners today in El Paso at the Haskins Center.

Less than 48 hours ago, the Roadrunners polished off the New Mexico State Aggies, 75-61, in Las Cruces. Now they’re suiting up to play the Miners in the second game of a road trip. Tipoff is at noon central time at UTEP.

The Roadrunners (2-1) started practicing this summer thinking that they might have a deep pool of talent to meet the challenge of their fourth season under head coach Karen Aston.

After three games, their depth is paying off in solid play from several players.

Everyone knew senior Jordyn Jenkins would be good coming into the season, and she has been. A preseason first-team all-American Athletic Conference selection, she’s averaging 21.3 points and 8.7 rebounds.

Jenkins has been a model efficiency on the offensive end, shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 80 percent at the free throw line. In Las Cruces on Thursday night, she was at her best, producing 27 points and 11 rebounds.

But just as the Aggies started to feel the brunt of Jenkins’ play in the paint — she scored 12 in the first quarter — everyone else started to click, as well.

New Mexico State attacked with Molly Kaiser, but UTSA responded with play from the likes of Nina De Leon Negron and Sidney Love. De Leon Negron had her best game of the season with 14 points. Love had eight points and seven assists. As a team, the Roadrunners hit nine of 18 from three-point distance.

In all, six UTSA players hit threes.

Today in El Paso, the Roadrunners’ depth will be tested again. The Miners (2-0) are a grind-it-out style team that has played well defensively in victories over Tarleton State and Morehead State. They’re holding opponents to 45 points per game on 29.9 percent shooting from the field.

The Miners’ offensive threats include 5-7 guard Ivane Tensaie, who averages 15 points. Others are 5-6 guard Portia Adams and 6-1 forward Luisa Vydrova. Both are averaging 11 points. The Miners are in their 20th season in Conference USA and in their second under head coach Keitha Adams.

Records

UTSA 2-1
UTEP 2-0

Coming up

UTSA at UTEP, today at noon
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at UTSA, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

Jenkins scores 27 as UTSA beats New Mexico State, 75-61

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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. The UTSA women's basketball team beat St. Mary's 90-38 in an exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

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.

UTSA women open two-game road trip at New Mexico State

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA women will start a two-game road trip at undefeated New Mexico State tonight, with tipoff at 6 p.m. at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces.

The Roadrunners (1-1) suffered shooting woes and lost their opener on the road at Texas A&M last Thursday, falling 55-51. They bounced back behind Sidney Love’s 21 points and 11 assists Saturday at home with a 74-69 victory over UT Rio Grande Valley.

Jordyn Jenkins leads the Roadrunners, averaging 18.5 points, and Love is next at 15.5. But those two may need help on the home court of the Aggies (2-0).

After rolling to a lopsided victory at home in an exhibition game against Division II Cameron, Okla., New Mexico State opened the regular season on the road on Nov. 4 and defeated UC Irvine, 57-49.

Six-foot-one forward Fanta Gassama led the way with 22 points and 16 rebounds to open her second season with the Aggies after two years in junior college. Gassama, from Mataro, Spain, is averaging 15 boards for the season.

Playing at home in their second game last Thursday, the Aggies rolled past Utah Tech 85-63 behind guard Molly Kaiser’s career-high 35 points. Kaiser has 50 points and 11 rebounds in two games.

Records

UTSA 1-1
New Mexico State 2-0

Coming up

UTSA at New Mexico State, tonight at 6 p.m.
UTSA at UTEP, Saturday at noon.

Notable

UTSA beat New Mexico State 58-55 last year in San Antonio. In recruiting, the Roadrunners on Wednesday signed three players for the class of 2025, including 5-5 guard Adriana Robles from Fort Worth Fossil Ridge HS, 6-0 forward Sema Udo from Plano East HS and 6-3 forward Sanaa Bean from Edna Karr HS in New Orleans, La.

Quotable

UTSA coach Karen Aston on starting the season, “I thought it was good to get it kicked off. We played hard and sometimes really, really well at A&M. Fell short. But I think we learned some lessons in that game. And then I thought Saturday against UTRGV was just a well-played game, by both teams. I didn’t think we made a ton of mistakes. I thought it was just two teams that shot the ball pretty well. We were lucky to come out on top on Saturday but I’m pleased to be moving forward, and we have a big week ahead.”

On Sidney Love’s performance against UTRGV: “I thought she was just in control. Sid has been here for three years and has been a three-year starter and someone that we definitely rely upon. But I think also you see the growth in a young lady that has sort of been in the fire and understands the sort of roller coaster you ride in a game. I thought she had some really, really good moments.

“But I thought where she was so impressive was just in her ability to stay connected with our team and to stay focused on … the task at hand … It was probably one of her best performances in what I call keeping the blinders on, and just have tunnel vision in what it was going to take for our team to win the game.”

Asked about junior Alexis Parker getting her fourth career start and freshman Damara Allen her first, “I think it goes back to the summer grind and the offseason grind. As you get ready for season, right now, from a coaching standpoint, you’re looking at who’s been the most consistent from Day One. And who has sort of put their shoes on and laced ’em up and worked every single day.

“I think those two have really shown a level of consistency with how they’re approaching practice every day. I mean, there’s others that have, too. And right now it’s a level of uncertainty, really, with our wing players. Who’s going to be who’s going to be ready to play and who understands the scout. Who understands what we expect, how to get the ball to the right person at the right time. Just a lot of things that go into playing at this level.

“I think it’ll still be kind of a week-by-week situation, just because there are some other players that I think deserve some playing time, too. Emma (Lucio) had some really good minutes and hasn’t played hardly at all. But when you go back to the question … about Lex and Damara, it’s been their level of consistency from Day One.”

Aston made her remarks on Monday on her weekly zoom conference.

Deen-led Bradley spoils UTSA’s first road game, 85-72

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Five-foot-eight guard Duke Deen produced 22 points, six rebounds and five assists Tuesday night as the Bradley Braves, playing at home at in Peoria, Ill., opened a big lead in the second half and then held off the UTSA Roadrunners, 85-72.

Deen hit four of Bradley’s 10 three pointers on the night as the Braves, shooting 52 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from distance, bounced back from a loss to Washington State and improved to 2-1. UTSA, in its first game of the season against NCAA Division I competition, fell to 1-1.

The Braves entered the new year as the preseason favorites in the Missouri Valley Conference and won by 28 points in their opener over Southeast Missouri. Last weekend, they played on the road and lost by 17 at Washington State before returning home to face the Roadrunners, an American Athletic Conference team under the direction of first-year coach Austin Claunch.

In their third game, the Braves won the battle of the boards 48-28 and dominated in the last nine minutes of the first half, opening an 18-point lead at intermission. In full control, the Braves led by as many as 23 points and were up by at least 20 for much of the second half.

Bradley held an 85-65 advantage with 1:20 remaining when UTSA scored the last seven points of the game for the final margin. Deen, a preseason pick for first-team all conference in the Missouri Valley, scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half.

The diminutive guard from Shreveport, La., had substantial help from his friends as forwards Almar Atlason had 18 points and Darius Hannah contributed 17. Guard Zek Montgomery scored 15.

UTSA was led by guard Primo Spears with 20 points, his second game with 20 or more to start the season. Playing hard to the end, forward Raekwon Horton contributed 15 points, six rebounds and five steals. Guard Marcus Millender had 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Roadrunners, who opened with a blowout victory at home over Division III Trinity, had an early five-point lead but couldn’t sustain the momentum. They were held to 34.8 percent shooting from the field for the game and 24 percent from three.

Records

UTSA 1-1
Bradley 2-1

Coming up

Little Rock at UTSA, Saturday, 3 p.m.

First half

Trailing by five with 11 minutes left in the half, the Braves started a run that ended with a 48-30 lead at halftime.

The Roadrunners played well early, getting a few defensive stops and forcing a turnover in an 8-0 run. Capping the streak was Jaquan Scott, who threw down a dunk and then hit two free throws for a 16-11 lead with 11:17 remaining.

From there, the Braves got hot, outscoring the Roadrunners 37-14 the rest of the way.

In the half, Spears led the Roadrunners with nine points and two steals. Horton had seven points and three rebounds. For the Braves, Deen scored 15 points and Hannah and Atlason each added 12 points.

Bradley shot 56.3 percent from the field in the half and drilled eight of 14 from three-point distance. Deen was three of five from behind the arc. Atlason was three for three and Hannah two for two.

The game was played at Bradley’s Carver Arena, in Peoria, Ill. It was UTSA’s second overall game this season under new coach Austin Claunch and the first on the road after opening with a blowout victory over Division III Trinity on Nov. 4.

Notable

UTSA center Mo Njie made his regular-season debut after sitting out the opener with a groin injury. Njie, the Roadrunners’ biggest player at 6-11 and 250 pounds, had eight points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. He hit four of six from the field.

The Roadrunners played their second game without high-scoring guard Tai’Reon Joseph, who hasn’t yet been cleared to suit up. UTSA expects Joseph to be eligible eventually, likely sometime before American Athletic Conference play starts. But the timetable for his return has not been announced.

In addition, 6-9 forward Jonnivius Smith, who had 10 rebounds off the bench against Trinity, also did not play.

Explosive Bradley guard Demarion Burch sat out his second straight game with a foot injury. He is expected to be out another two to three weeks.

Quotable

“Both sides of the ball, we got to be better,” UTSA coach Austin Claunch told broadcaster Andy Everett on the postgame show. “Give Bradley a lot of credit. Obviously they’re a team that’s been together. They were picked to win their league for a reason.

“That’s not an excuse for us to take some of the shots we did. I want our guys to be aggressive, but I’ve got to do a better job of manufacturing more downhill drives and create open shots. We want to shoot threes, but I actually thought we were getting in the paint a good amount and then maybe not playing with enough poise.

“We’re up five in the first half. They go on that run, and we didn’t respond well. Ultimately, it’s hard to come back down 16 against a team like that.”

The Roadrunners missed 19 shots from three-point distance and hit 20 of 23 from the free throw line, an indication that maybe they could have done more damage from closer range. They also collected 10 steals and forced 18 turnovers, another positive sign.

“We just got to guard the ball better,” Claunch said. “We’ve got to take more pride in guarding the ball, and that starts with me. I want to play fast. We will play fast. But we got to get stops. We got to get stops, and that’s the reward. Then you can run.”

Claunch said he was proud of his players’ effort.

“As we build this thing, we’ve got to have attitude and effort all the time,” he said. “I was at least happy with how we finished the game, how we stayed together.

“Listen, this team’s got … we’ve got high hopes. And this one was a good game. It’s a team that’s about our level, in terms of a good Missouri Valley team that’s trying to make the NCAA tournament.

“So for us to see (that) … we’ve got to get better in a lot of things if we’re going to have the successful season we want to have. But it’s got to happen quickly.”

UTSA to unveil banner commemorating last season’s trip to the WNIT

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Siena Guttadauro. The UTSA women's basketball team beat St. Mary's 90-38 in an exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Siena Guttadauro scored eight points in 16 minutes off the bench in the team’s opener at Texas A&M. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Update: UTSA, in a pre-game ceremony, will unveil a banner commemorating the women’s basketball team’s trip to the WNIT last season. In addition, it appears that Roadrunners starting point guard Nina De Leon Negron won’t play today. She was wearing a walking boot on her right foot during warmups.

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Karen Aston’s UTSA Roadrunners hope to find the winning formula today against the surprising UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros.

Looking for their first victory after losing their opener by four points Thursday at Texas A&M, the Roadrunners will host the Vaqueros, who registered a stunning upset in their first game.

Tipoff will be at 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

Edinburg-based UTRGV won on the road Tuesday at the University of Houston, 70-68, to cap a dramatic sequence of events in the final seconds. First, the Vaqueros inbounded when they were down by one point. Junior forward Charlotte O’Keefe responded by draining a three from the top of the circle.

Next, Houston pushed the ball up the court, with Gia Cooke shooting and hitting a three that was waved off after a review. Officials looked at the monitors to determine that Cooke released the shot after the buzzer, giving the win to UTRGV.

It was the first victory for the UTRGV program over a team from a power conference since 2003. Two days later, UTSA opened its season in College Station looking for the program’s first power conference win since 2010.

The Roadrunners came close, but they fell 55-51 to the Aggies. Forward Jordyn Jenkins led UTSA with 18 points and 11 rebounds and Sidney Love scored 10. But the Roadrunners, in need of a complement to Jenkins, came up empty on a couple of possessions in the final minute.

Aston told the team’s radio broadcast that UTSA will keep working to find the right chemistry to pull out close games.

“You know, it’s a new team. New chemistry,” she said. “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.”

Coming up

UTRGV 1-0
UTSA 0-1

Notable

UTRGV hit 12 of 27 from behind the 3-point arc at Houston. Kade Hackerott and Sophia Zufelt each connected on three apiece. O’Keefe was two for two.

The Vaqueros are opening a new chapter in athletics with their move into the Southland Conference. They finished 6-23 overall and 5-15 in 2023-24, their last season in the Western Athletic Conference. Their coach is Lane Lord, who is in his seventh season at the school.

The Vaqueros have at least two players with San Antonio connections, including Ja’Shelle Johnson, a sophomore from Johnson High School, and also senior guard/forward Faith Phillips, who played two years at St. Mary’s University before transferring to UTRGV in 2023.

The Roadrunners are coming off their best season in 15 years. They were 10-8 in the American Athletic Conference and took the No. 4 seed into the AAC tournament, where they were knocked out in the semifinals. Earning a berth in the WNIT, they won a game in a national tournament for the first time in school history They finished 18-15 overall.

The UTSA men were scheduled to play tonight following the women for a basketball doubleheader at the Convo. But the game was canceled, with their opponent, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, citing travel and weather-related problems. It’s uncertain whether the game will be made up this season.

North Dakota at UTSA men’s basketball has been canceled

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A men’s basketball game scheduled for Saturday night at UTSA scheduled has been canceled because of weather and travel-related concerns for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Whether the game can be rescheduled to later in the season is yet to be determined, according to a news release from UTSA.

The UT Rio Grande Valley at UTSA women will play Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Convocation Center, as scheduled, a spokesman said.

The spokesman said the issue for the men’s game centered on North Dakota having flights canceled because of weather in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. Edinburg-based UTRGV shouldn’t have any travel concerns, the spokesman said.