SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA women's basketball team will test its mettle at the Hoopfest Women's Basketball Challenge with matchups on the docket against Auburn and Grand Canyon in Frisco, Texas, at the Comerica Center. The 'Runners will first face the Tigers on Monday at 4 p.m., before meeting the Lopes at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
The event will be broadcast live on FloSports, with Bill Schoening (play-by-play) and Hector Ledesma (analyst) on the call. Neal Raphael will deliver all the action on the radio in the greater San Antonio area on The Bull 93.3 FM and worldwide on the iHeartRadio app.
The Roadrunners (2-2, 0-0 American) are riding back-to-back victories over regional rivals, with a 64-41 Battle for I-35 victory over Texas State coming just before a 74-57 win over UIW in the Hometown Showdown.
Against the Cardinals, senior Cheyenne Rowe led the way, scoring 17 for a career-high in back-to-back games, and junior Idara Udo posted an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double. Senior Ereauna Hardaway had her best game as a Roadrunner, charting 15 points with four rebounds, three assists, and a block, and fellow point guard Adriana Robles scored 11 for her collegiate best. On the day, UTSA shot 52% from the field to UIW's 38%, and the 'Runners snagged 21 more rebounds and recorded 10 more second-chance points.
The Tigers (6-0, 0-0 SEC) have been perfect to start the year, with victories in their first six, including an overtime win against American Conference opponent, Charlotte.
Last time out, Auburn took down Rutgers, 51-46, thanks in large part to double-digit scoring performances by Zachara Perkins and Nene Ndiaye. On the season, Harrisoum Coulibaly paces the squad with 12.5 points per game, with Kaitlyn Duhon and Mya Petticord not far behind, each at 11.7. Khady Leye rounds out a quartet that averages double-digits, managing 11.3, and she tops the team, averaging 5.8 rebounds per game. Defensively, Duhon checks in at 19th in the NCAA with 18 steals and Petticord has gone 16-of-16 from the charity stripe, tying her for the national lead.
The Lopes (1-4, 0-0 WAC) picked up their first win of the campaign in their last bout, topping SMU 76-60 to snap a four-game skid. GCU will first take on Cal on Monday at the tournament, before facing UTSA on Wednesday.
Ale'Jah Douglas has provided a bright spot, hitting 55.6% from beyond the arc for the 17th-best across the country. Chloe Mann provides the bulk of the offense with 12.6 points per game, and Douglas manages 11.6 to join her in the double-digit scoring club. Julianna Lamendola excels on the glass with 5.6 rebounds per game, and Mann has a team-best 12 assists on the year.
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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