SAN ANTONIO– The UTSA women’s basketball team picked up its first victory of the 2026-27 season, routing UIW 73-51 in nonconference action at the Convocation Center on Wednesday.
The Roadrunners (1-2, 0-0 American) bested the Cardinals (1-1, 0-0 Southland), behind a solid performance from sophomore Adriana Robles who scored 15 with four assists and two rebounds. Senior Kierra Merchant matched her as the team’s leading scorer, also securing three boards with two assists. Classmate Idara Udo scored 12, while junior Mia Hammonds had seven rebounds and redshirt senior Praise Egharevba six. Additionally, freshman Jana Ros made her collegiate debut, scoring her first point for the Roadrunners.
UTSA shot 54% from the field to UIW’s 37%, while outscoring the Cardinals in the paint, 36-2. The Roadrunners recorded 29 more rebounds, had 12 more points off turnovers and saw 11 more points off the bench.
The ‘Runners scored the first six points of the contest before a Cardinal triple cut the deficit in half. Robles responded with a trey of her own, and a Hammonds freebie worked a 10-3 advantage. Another 6-0 spurt had UTSA leading 18-9, prompting a UIW three-pointer. The Roadrunners finished the frame strong, taking a 22-14 edge into the subsequent stanza.
After trading blows to start the second, UIW pulled within four, resulting in a 28-24 score. UTSA kept the opposition at bay with a Merchant triple, ahead of a 35-29 halftime score.
UIW struck first in the third, but a pair of Udo layups bookended a 6-0 run for a 43-32 edge. Shortly after, redshirt sophomore Taylor Ross connected on a jumper to increase the advantage to 12, and a Merchant triple sparked a 12-3 surge for a 57-38 lead. The Cardinals halted the run with a three, ahead of a 59-43 lead at the quarter’s conclusion.
Robles uncorked a three to kick-start the fourth, with a later basket seeing a 68-43 edge. From there, UTSA never looked back, securing a 73-51 victory.
UTSA will remain at home, with a matchup against Louisiana on Monday, Nov. 16, at 6:30 p.m. The Roadrunners will celebrate the 2026 American Tournament Championship, with a banner unveiling, and the first 250 fans in attendance will receive a replica championship ring.
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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