UTSA suffered a 75-62 defeat to University of South Florida Wednesday at the Yuengling Center.
Without senior forward Jordyn Jenkins, the team’s top scorer and key defensive contributor, UTSA (17-3, 8-1 AAC) kept the game competitive through three quarters. However, a near-perfect shooting performance by South Florida (14-8, 7-2 AAC) in the fourth quarter proved too much to overcome, as the Bulls pulled away to secure the victory.
Missing Jenkins, who averages 19 points and nearly eight rebounds per game, left UTSA vulnerable on both ends of the floor. South Florida exploited the absence early by winning the rebounding battle, where UTSA, ranked eighth nationally in rebounding margin, was outworked 17-14 in the first half. The Bulls’ ability to limit second-chance opportunities also exposed how much UTSA relies on Jenkins’ presence in key moments.
Graduate guard Sammie Puisis set the tone early for South Florida, exploiting mismatches with her size and perimeter shooting to punish UTSA’s defense with a series of open shots. South Florida’s defense disrupted UTSA’s half-court offense, pressuring ball handlers and forcing turnovers. Junior guard Sidney Love carried UTSA’s offense with strong drives to the basket, finishing with 14 points, but her six turnovers reflected the struggles UTSA had breaking down the Bulls’ aggressive on-ball defense.
Defensively, the Roadrunners held their own for much of the game. Their ability to contest South Florida’s outside shooting helped them stay within striking distance. However, UTSA’s offensive inconsistency kept them from capitalizing on defensive stops. Love and junior forward Cheyenne Rowe provided much of the scoring, with Rowe demonstrating an expanded offensive role in Jenkins’ absence by scoring 15 points and hitting timely shots. Yet, with no other player besides Love in double figures, UTSA lacked the depth to keep pace.
The fourth quarter unraveled quickly for the Roadrunners. Levy, despite shooting only 11% from three-point range on the season, drained a crucial triple to push the lead to seven. From there, South Florida found a rhythm that UTSA couldn’t disrupt, hitting 11 of 13 shots in the final period. Meanwhile, the Roadrunners’ offense sputtered, missing nine of their last ten attempts. Love and Rowe fought hard, finishing with 14 and 15 points respectively, but UTSA’s overall inefficiency sealed their fate.
Despite the loss, the Roadrunners still hold the top spot in the American Athletic Conference. Competing with a strong South Florida team without Jenkins speaks to the resilience and preparation of head coach Karen Aston’s squad. However, with tough matchups against top conference opponents in Temple University and the University of North Texas looming, UTSA will need Jenkins back on the court to continue their remarkable season.
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