SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The UTSA women’s basketball team extended their winning streak to five via a 62-53 routing of UNC Greensboro to open the Puerto Rico Clasico on Thursday at the Rueben Rodriguez Coliseum. The last time the ‘Runners strung together five straight came at the tail end of the 2022-23 campaign when the squad caught fire entering the CUSA Tournament.
The Roadrunners (5-1, 0-0 The American) bested the Spartans (6-2, 0-0 SoCon) with a trio recording double-digit scoring figures. Redshirt senior Jordyn Jenkins posted 14 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double, while sophomore Idara Udo was not far behind, charting 10 points and seven boards. Junior Maya Linton scored 11, with classmate Cheyenne Rowe tallying eight points and five rebounds. Additionally, Sidney Love earned seven points, dished out five assists and secured four rebounds.
UTSA dominated in the paint, with 26 points to UNCG’s 16, and also logged 19 more rebounds and 12 more second-chance points than their opponents.
A Linton triple helped work a 4-4 tie early in the first, ahead of five straight for UNCG that handed them the lead. A pair of Udo free throws halted the streak, and the Spartans worked a 12-6 lead midway through the frame. Shortly after, the ‘Runners came racing back, closing the period on a 13-3 run in a stretch that featured a Jenkins three and multiple scores by Udo.
Now leading 19-15, the Roadrunners kept battling with a graduate student Nina De Leon Negron fast break layup seeing a 23-17 score line. Not to be deterred, the Spartans kept things close, exchanging blows until freshman Mia Hammonds connected from deep for a 28-23 advantage and her first collegiate score. UTSA wrapped up the half with a Linton three-pointer that sent the squads into the locker room with the ‘Runners up, 35-27.
Jenkins got a hook to fall, and Love buried a triple to start the third with a 40-27 edge. UTSA then kept the opposition at arms-length for the remainder of the stanza, building a 48-35 lead entering the final frame.
Looking to rally late, the Spartans converted a four-point play to claw back within eight. UTSA, however, managed to fend off UNCG for a 62-53 victory.
The Roadrunners will wrap up the Puerto Rico Clasico on Friday as they take on Towson with a 1 p.m. CT tip at the Juan Cruz Abreu Coliseum.
Keep up with UTSA Women's Basketball on goutsa.com and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAWBB, X (Twitter) @UTSAWBB, and on Instagram @UTSA_WBB.
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