ARLINGTON, Texas — Sophomores Maya Linton and Sidney Love starred as the UTSA women's basketball team collected a 70-66 victory over UT Arlington in nonconference action inside the College Park Center on Saturday. Linton recorded the 'Runners first double-double of the season to the tune of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Love logged a career-high 26 points. Additionally, UTSA has opened the season 3-1 against NCAA Division I opponents for the first time since taking down UTRGV, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and Austin Peay in 2012.
The Roadrunners (3-1, 0-0 AAC) topped the Lady Mavs (0-4, 0-0 WAC), with Linton becoming the first member of the squad to boost double-digit figures in multiple categories since teammate Elyssa Coleman amassed 10 points and 11 boards against Rice on March 9, 2023. Love, meanwhile, used 24 second-half points to reach a new personal benchmark, going 6-for-10 and converting 13-of-15 free throws in the process. Also delivering solid performances, senior Kyra White dished out six assists, and freshman Idara Udo scored nine with seven boards.
As a team, UTSA shot 42% from the field and 69% from the charity stripe while outrebounding the Lady Mavs 46-30. Aiding the 'Runners on the glass, Coleman hauled in eight boards and White six.
The Lady Mavs scored the first five points of the contest, but a Linton jumper and a White bucket saw a 5-4 score line. Another shot went down for White, putting the Roadrunners in front before a pair of UTA points resulted in a 7-6 score. Linton, Love, and Udo all sunk shots, building a 12-7 lead, ahead of a sophomore Alexis Parker jumper and a three-point buzzer-beater by classmate Madison Cockrell that concluded the period with the 'Runners up 17-10.
UTA battled back in the second stanza, working a 20-20 tie with seven minutes remaining in the half. The teams then exchanged blows en route to a 28-point deadlock. Linton scored her 10th point of the half on a jumper to put the 'Runners back up, but the Lady Mavs again responded and headed into the locker room tied 32-32.
Still battling, the Roadrunners sparked a nine-point surge with Love scoring on a layup and sinking a free throw before Udo logged a second-chance bucket for a 38-36 Roadrunner lead. Love stretched the UTSA run to seven with another make, ahead of two more converted free throws, resulting in a 42-36 UTSA edge. The Lady Mavs answered with a spurt of their own, crawling back to within one, but a Love triple allowed the Roadrunners to keep the opposition at arms-length. UTSA finished the period strong, carrying a 50-45 lead into the final frame.
Linton poked the ball free early in the fourth, leading to a fast-break and-one for Love and a 54-45 Roadrunner advantage. Not to be deterred, the Lady Mavs continued fighting ahead of a 59-55 score midway through the period. A freshman Aysia Proctor floater shortly after saw a 64-59 score line with 2:10 left to play. Two more free throws for Love allowed her to match her career high in points before UTA converted an and-one for a 66-62 score with a minute to go. From there, Linton and Love converted at the charity stripe to secure a 70-66 win for the Roadrunners.
The Roadrunners will now focus on an undefeated Texas Tech squad with a 6 p.m. matchup set for Monday inside United Supermarkets Arena.
Keep up with UTSA Women's Basketball all season long on goutsa.com and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAWBB, X (Twitter) @UTSAWBB, and on Instagram @UTSA_WBB.
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