TULSA, Okla.––On Saturday, the UTSA women's basketball team made history as they picked up a 60-53 American Athletic Conference victory over Tulsa at the Reynolds Center. The 'Runners collected their 12th win of the season, and a 12-2 record reflects the program's best-ever through 14 games. Additionally, UTSA is 3-0 in league action for the first time since the 2009-10 squad accomplished the feat in the Southland, and the win was the 50th of Head Coach Karen Aston's tenure.
The Roadrunners (12-2, 3-0 The American) bested the Golden Hurricane (7-8, 1-2 The American) thanks to a dominant defensive performance that saw TU limited to 30% from the field and two field goals across the fourth quarter. UTSA also snagged 11 more rebounds than the opposition and eight more points in the paint.
Redshirt senior Jordyn Jenkins provided half the 'Runners points, scoring 30 to go with seven rebounds, while sophomore Idara Udo posted eight points and 10 boards. Junior Sidney Love tallied five points with eight rebounds and three assists, and graduate student Nina De Leon Negron hauled in seven boards.
Jenkins tickled the twine on back-to-back shots, and Udo logged a layup for a 6-0 UTSA lead. Tulsa then knocked down a freebie, and later basket saw a 6-3 score midway through the frame.
Jenkins got another shot to fall, and the Golden Hurricane nailed a three-pointer before junior Cheyenne Rowe recorded three consecutive makes for a 14-6 edge. TU finished the frame with a layup, sending the squads into the second with UTSA up, 14-8.
Four straight points for Jenkins started the subsequent stanza, increasing the Roadrunner's advantage to 11, but the Golden Hurricane responded with an 11-2 surge, trimming their deficit to two. Jenkins broke the streak with a pair of free throws, and a slugfest ensued until a Love three-pointer and another Jenkins bucket put UTSA up, 30-23. Tulsa knocked down two from the charity stripe in the final minute, resulting in a 30-25 halftime score.
UTSA came out hot, with triples for Jenkins and junior Maya Linton en route to a 9-2 spurt. The Golden Hurricane halted the streak with a triple, and a later De Leon Negron layup saw a 41-30 Roadrunner lead. TU then battled back within three via an 8-0 run. Jenkins and Love responded with consecutive jumpers, and two sophomore Emma Lucio free throws built a nine-point edge. The Golden Hurricane converted a corner three, issuing a 47-41 score line to conclude the period.
Tulsa scored five of the first seven points to start the fourth, resulting in a 49-46 score line, still favoring the 'Runners. UTSA's defense locked down, holding the Golden Hurricane without a field goal for the following eight minutes as a Jenkins putback and a Udo layup helped snag a 57-49 edge with under a minute to play. Tulsa sunk two from the charity stripe, but UTSA knocked down their free throws for a 60-53 win.
The Roadrunners will return to the Convocation Center, with a Wednesday matchup with Rice at 6:30 p.m.
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