UTSA women’s basketball will return to the Convocation Center on Wednesday to face Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi after a successful week of road games. The Roadrunners earned back-to-back victories, defeating New Mexico State University 75-61 and rallying past the University of Texas at El Paso 78-73. Meanwhile, the Islanders are coming off their first loss of the season, a 65-42 defeat at the hands of 17th-ranked Baylor University.
Matchup History
UTSA has historically dominated the series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, holding a commanding 13-5 advantage in their 18 meetings. The Roadrunners are on an eight-game winning streak against the Islanders, dating back to February 2010. Their most recent matchup in November 2023 was a thrilling overtime battle, where UTSA rallied from a 15-point deficit to secure a 66-59 victory. Senior guard Kyra White led the charge with 18 points, while junior forward Elyssa Coleman added 14. The Roadrunners’ dominance on the boards proved decisive, as they out-rebounded the Islanders 48-33.
UTSA
The Roadrunners enter this matchup at 3-1, propelled by senior forward Jordyn Jenkins, who has been dominant on both ends of the floor. Averaging 23.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, Jenkins ranks among the nation’s top players and recently earned American Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors, along with national recognition from the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. Her scoring and presence in the paint anchor a UTSA offense averaging 69.5 points per game on 46 percent shooting while allowing 64.5 points per contest.
Supporting Jenkins is junior guard Sidney Love, who averages 10.5 points and leads the team with 5.5 assists per game, while graduate guard Nina De Leon Negron has been a sharpshooter from beyond the arc, hitting 55.6 percent of her three-point attempts. The Roadrunners have also excelled on the boards, out-rebounding opponents by an average of 7.2 per game. However, turnovers remain an area of concern, as UTSA averages 17 per game, something they will need to address to maintain their edge against tough opponents.
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
The Islanders, led by veteran head coach Royce Chadwick, have established themselves as a defensively sound team. They allow just 58 points per game, ranking 102nd nationally in scoring defense, and lead the Southland Conference in blocks per game with 5.5. Forward Nabaweeyah McGill has been a remarkable shot-blocker, ranking among the top 20 in the nation with 11 blocks this season.
Guard Paige Allen has been the key to the Islanders’ offense and defense, averaging 11.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and three steals per game. She is complemented by guard Mireia Aguado, who also averages 11.3 points and leads the team in assists. However, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has struggled with offensive consistency, as shown in their loss to Baylor, where they shot just 30 percent from the field, including a putrid nine percent from beyond the arc, and committed 22 turnovers. These turnovers, averaging 17.3 per game this season, mirror UTSA’s struggles and could be a deciding factor against the Roadrunners’ physical and relentless playstyle.
Predictions
Texas A&M CC will look to capitalize on its defensive strengths and rebound from the Baylor loss, but the Roadrunners’ depth and talent present significant challenges. UTSA defeated the Islanders last season without Jordyn Jenkins, who is now healthy and performing at an elite level. Her capabilities, combined with the contributions of an even better team, give the Roadrunners a clear advantage. UTSA’s defensive adjustments and rebounding presence have been key in their recent wins and should allow them to control the pace of this game. If they can limit turnovers and maintain offensive efficiency, the Roadrunners should extend their winning streak against the Islanders.
Paisano Pick: UTSA: 74, Texas A&M CC: 67
