COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Despite a redshirt senior Jordyn Jenkins double-double, the UTSA women's basketball team suffered a 55-51 setback at the hands of Texas A&M on Thursday in nonconference action at Reed Arena.
The Roadrunners (0-1, 0-0 The American) narrowly fell to the Aggies (1-1, 0-0 SEC) as Jenkins charted 18 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Sidney Love joined her in the double-digit scoring club with 10 points, and sophomore Idara Udo collected six boards. Four made their UTSA debuts as graduate student Nina De Leon Negron, redshirt senior Nyayongah Gony, freshman Taylor Ross, and newcomer Damara Allen all saw the floor.
After an A&M layup, a Jenkins putback represented UTSA's first score of the new year. An Aggie three not far after handed the opposition an 8-4 lead midway through the period. Love then brought UTSA within two on a driving layup before A&M surged with a 6-0 run delivering them a 14-8 advantage. A scoop and score for Allen represented her first collegiate bucket, cutting the deficit to four, and an Aggie freebie saw a 15-10 scoreline. Jenkins sunk a layup to close out the first quarter with UTSA trailing, 15-12.
The second stanza opened with an A&M triple, to which Jenkins responded with a bucket and Allen knocked down a triple. Texas A&M scored five straight for a 23-17 edge with the half nearing its close. After exchanging blows, a De Leon Negron layup sent the squads into the locker room with the Aggies leading 26-22.
UTSA was on fire, scoring the first 11 points out of the break. Jenkins and De Leon Negron hit back-to-back shots before a junior Maya Linton three-pointer saw a 29-26 lead that was the 'Runners first of the day. An Udo tip-in and a Love jumper put the Roadrunners up 33-26. A&M responded with a 12-2 run of their own to regain a 38-35 edge, ahead of a 40-38 score entering the final frame.
A&M got the scoring started in the fourth, but a 6-0 run handed UTSA a 44-42 advantage. The Aggies banged home a triple to regain the lead midway through the quarter, and a junior Siena Guttadauro free throw saw a 45-45 tie. A&M broke the deadlock with four straight; however, a Guttadauro three-pointer kept UTSA within striking distance. The Aggies got another shot to fall for a 54-51 edge before cementing a 55-51 victory.
The Roadrunners will be back in action on Saturday as they face UTRGV in the home opener at the Convocation Center at 1 p.m.
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.
-UTSA-