LAS CRUCES, N.M. – A redshirt senior Jordyn Jenkins double-double propelled the UTSA women’s basketball team past New Mexico State, 75-61, in nonconference action inside the Pan American Center.
The Roadrunners (2-1, 0-0 The American) bested the Aggies (2-1, 0-0 CUSA) as Jenkins tallied 27 points and 11 rebounds on 9-for-14 shooting and an 8-for-8 ledger at the free-throw line. Along with Jenkins, sophomore Idara Udo charted 11 points and four rebounds, while graduate student Nina De Leon Negron posted 14 points with a career-high four three-pointers. Additionally, junior Sidney Love was solid, with eight points and seven assists.
The Runners shot 45% from the field, including 50% from beyond the arc, while going 12-for-13 from the free-throw line. UTSA also recorded 17 more rebounds than the opposition, 12 more second-chance points, and 11 more bench points.
Jenkins scored the first six for the Roadrunners, as they found themselves trailing 9-6 midway through the first. A layup for Love and an and-one for junior Maya Linton put UTSA in front, 12-9. From there, Linton and De Leon Negron buried triples en route to a 20-12 lead. A pair of Jenkins freebies followed before junior Alexis Parker knocked down a three-pointer to increase the ‘Runner advantage to 11. NM State found the bottom of the net before the quarter ended with a 25-16 score line.
Looking to mount a comeback, the Aggies pulled within six, and a senior Nyayongah Gony trey resulted in a 32-23 advantage in the second stanza. NM State came screaming back via a 10-2 run that saw a 34-33 score line, still favoring UTSA. Love drove to the hoop for two, and De Leon Negron sunk a straight-on triple for a 39-33 halftime lead.
Love cracked open the third with a bucket, and the Aggies answered. A slugfest ensured ahead of five consecutive De Leon Negron points that prompted a 50-41 lead halfway through the period. NM State responded with five points of their own, ahead of a 56-50 score entering the fourth.
De Leon Negron got a triple to fall in the final frame, but NM State answered with one of their own. Udo then knocked down a trey, but the Aggies again tickled the twine from beyond the arc and got an elbow jumper to fall for a 62-58 score. Jenkins converted from deep and followed that up with a layup to provide a nine-point cushion. The Aggies were held without a field goal for the final five minutes of the contest, as multiple Jenkins and-one’s cemented the 75-61 win.
The Roadrunners will remain on the road, next facing UTEP at noon on Saturday at Don Haskins Arena in El Paso, Texas.
following the program on Facebook at /UTSAWBB, X (Twitter) @UTSAWBB, and on Instagram @UTSA_WBB.
-UTSA-