UTSA women’s basketball is on a 10-game winning streak this season after beating the University of Tulsa during Wednesday night’s game at the Convocation Center. This is the Roadrunners’ first double-digit winning streak since their 2007-08 season. The coach behind UTSA’s latest success is head coach Karen Aston.
Aston has been with the ‘Runners since 2021. Before joining UTSA, she coached at the University of Texas. Aston’s transition to UTSA says a lot about her passion and belief in the program, as supported by her choice to commit to a smaller school in the same university system. She led the Longhorns for eight seasons, guiding them to six NCAA tournament appearances.
Elyssa Coleman was a redshirt freshman in Aston’s last year coaching for Texas; she transferred to UTSA along with Aston. Coleman went on to be the program’s all-time leader in blocks. She was also named to the 2022-23 Conference-USA All-Defensive Team. Coleman is now the director of operations for women’s basketball at UTSA.
Aston has been recognized as a top coach in the nation throughout her coaching career. In 2017, she was in the top four finalists for the Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year award as well as earning Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades.
UTSA currently sits at the top of the American Athletic Conference with an 8-0 conference record. The team has managed to obtain an average of 67.8 points per game and 17.1 turnovers.
In her three seasons at UTSA, Aston has a record of 38-57. The ‘Runners 2019-20 campaign yielded a 6-23 record, with their 2020-21 season being cut short due to Covid.
Since Aston joined, UTSA earned its first ever postseason win against University of Northern Colorado. At the same time, the program made its debut at the National Invitation Tournament during the 2023-24 season and secured the most wins in a season since 2008-09 with an 18-15 record. The team finished fourth in the American Athletic Conference with a 10-8 record.
Aston is forming bonds within the team and bringing them to the next level. During the games, it’s easy to tell the players respect each other and work together as one. The team’s hard work and determination shine through both on and off the court.
“The biggest thing you can see in this group right now is the quiet confidence about themselves,” coach Karen Aston said. “We don’t get too rattled even when things aren’t going good.”
The three players helping lead UTSA right now are redshirt senior forward Jordyn Jenkins, junior guard Sidney Love and graduate student guard Nina De Leon Negron. Over Aston’s career, three of her players were drafted into the WNBA.
Aston shows that good coaching and determination are everything, coming in and bringing the Roadrunners back to their glory days. UTSA has the mentality, hard work and talent to win it all this season. Although there are still 10 games left for the ‘Runners, there is no sign of stopping them.