SAN ANTONIO — Senior Jordyn Jenkins recorded a game-high 27 points, and classmate Kyra White was one assist shy of a double-double as UTSA defeated Northern Colorado 80-62 on Thursday to advance into the Second Round of the 2024 Postseason WNIT. The win was the program's first in the postseason, and the Roadrunners are now 1-2 all-time in national postseason play.
The Roadrunners (18-14, 10-8 The American) bested the Bears (15-16, 10-8 Big Sky), as Jenkins went 11-for-16 from the field in the squad's WNIT debut. Meanwhile, White charted 10 points with nine assists and four rebounds, and freshman Aysia Proctor went 5-for-6 to score 13 points with six boards. Also joining the double-digit scoring club, sophomore Sidney Love scored 10 points, including a pair of triples.
As a team, UTSA shot 47.7% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc, recording 16 more points off turnovers and 11 more fast-break points than the opposition.
Jenkins kick-started the contest with a bucket ahead of a graduate student Hailey Atwood triple, leading to a 5-3 advantage. UNC then sparked a 6-0 run that put them up 9-5, but Jenkins responded with a layup, and Proctor converted an and-one to put the 'Runners back up. The teams traded three-pointers before two more Bear treys resulted in a 20-13 Northern Colorado edge. UTSA answered with a 6-0 surge that saw four points by Jenkins and a sophomore Cheyenne Rowe bucket. The Bears knocked down a freebie before the quarter ended, with UNC up 23-19.
UTSA strung together seven straight, with back-to-back triples by White and Jenkins delivering a 28-26 advantage early in the second. The Bears halted the run with a make, but the Roadrunners added to their lead with another Jenkins jumper and a Love three-pointer, seeing a 37-30 advantage. The teams then traded blows before UTSA headed to the locker room, holding a 40-35 edge.
The squads matched each other for the majority of the third quarter, as Jenkins connected from beyond the arc and used a layup to keep the 'Runners in front. A three-ball for Proctor shortly after saw a 56-49 UTSA lead. However, the Bears finished the stanza with a layup, issuing a 60-55 score line heading into the fourth.
UTSA was scorching to open the final frame, scoring eight of the first 10 points for a 70-57 lead. Northern Colorado halted the run, but the 'Runners picked up right where they left off, using another six points surge to take a commanding 76-59 advantage. UTSA then finished the fight en route to an 80-62 final score.
The Roadrunners will now advance into the second round, where they'll meet a Wyoming squad that's gone 16-14, including a mark of 11-7 in Mountain West play. The 'Runners will meet the Cowgirls at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyoming, on Sunday at 2 p.m. C.T.
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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