With less than a month before tipoff, UTSA women’s basketball is deep in its preseason process. Wednesday’s practice marked the Roadrunners’ third-straight practice consisting of two hours of tempo, toughness and accountability. Inside the Convocation Center, every drill carried the same theme: Play fast, play physical and play together.
From the start, players cycled through rebounding and no-dribble passing drills where the ball could not touch the floor. Every cut and screen had to be sharp. Coach Karen Aston’s message centered on one word: violent.
“That’s what practice is about,” Aston said. “For young players at this level, every little thing and every detail matters. Practicing at game speed is a learned behavior in college. Every day we’re teaching the tempo you have to play at and practice at.”
Her focus on tempo and physicality echoed across the gym. Even as the team worked through early fatigue, Aston never raised her voice. Instead, her tone was deliberate — demanding precision, not perfection, from a group still learning how to practice at game speed.
After 45 minutes had passed, drills shifted into three-on-three against the men’s scout team. The pace intensified immediately. Junior forward Idara Udo controlled the paint, finishing hooks and floaters with touch. Junior guard Jayda Holiman hit several threes off movement, while freshman guard Adriana Robles showed court awareness beyond her age, threading passes and cutting decisively.
“It’s a process and won’t happen all at once,” Aston noted. “Growth will be ongoing.”
That growth showed in how players responded after mistakes. No one lingered on a missed layup or turnover. Udo and senior guard Maya Linton were vocal, holding teammates accountable while keeping the energy high. Their voices set the tone and Aston nodded occasionally, letting the players lead through example.
“You expect that from them. They know our standard,” Aston said.
Defensive work defined the ensuing stretch. On one end, guards sprinted into closeouts, shouting through rotations and contesting shots without fouling. Holiman and Robles excelled at staying balanced, reading drives and recovering off pump fakes. Across the court, post players banged inside as senior forward Cheyenne Rowe anchored the group, altering shots with her length and positioning.
“We’ll be different,” Aston said. “Last year we played through [Jordyn] Jenkins a lot. Cheyenne Rowe logged a lot of minutes, and her leadership has been great. She’s ready to step into that spot.”
Rowe is different from Jenkins, but similar in spirit. Her consistency inside mirrors what Jenkins brought — reliability and toughness — while Aston’s emphasis on rebounding remains non-negotiable. Every defensive stop flowed into a fast break, mirroring how UTSA intends to generate offense this season.
An hour in, practice turned tactical. Players ran through half-court sets focused on second and third options when the first look was denied. Aston paused often, breaking down spacing and decision-making, teaching players how to improvise when defenses forced them off-script.
“It’s crucial,” Aston said. “One of the hardest adjustments for young players is understanding opponents won’t let you do what you do best.”
The team’s response was encouraging. Hardaway, the University of North Texas transfer, directed traffic like a veteran. Her communication and timing allowed the offense to reset without hesitation, reinforcing Aston’s belief that this year’s identity starts on defense and grows through control.
About 20 minutes later, the focus shifted to baseline and sideline out-of-bounds actions. Players cut through contact, set firm screens and fought for inside position. When a pass slipped or timing lagged, Aston urged them to simulate game intensity — holding the ball firmly, cutting through contact and setting solid screens. The following corner-three and layup drills maintained a steady pace as players fought through exhaustion.
“Today wasn’t a big up-tempo day, ” Aston said. “We’d gone hard two straight days, so we taught more and the tempo slowed.”
The final 15 minutes featured a five-on-five scrimmage against the scout team. Hardaway’s defensive instincts stood out as she created turnovers and directed rotations. UTSA’s defensive sharpness forced rushed shots and turnovers.
“We’re emphasizing accountability to our standard,” Aston said. “With many new voices, it’s about holding each other to what it takes at this level. The older players are showing the younger ones it’s okay to be tired — you still fight through it.”
It is clear that accountability has become the foundation of this team. Players celebrated deflections as loudly as baskets. When someone fell out of rotation, a teammate immediately filled the gap. The older players modeled the effort Aston demands — push through fatigue, stay vocal and compete through every possession.
The mental edge was also apparent even in exhaustion. Associate head coach Cameron Miles barked encouragement from the sideline, while Aston kept the group grounded, correcting small details and reinforcing expectations. Each segment tied back to her larger goal — discipline, defense and communication forming the core of UTSA’s early identity.
“I’m extremely pleased with them,” Aston said. “They’re hard on themselves and set very high — sometimes unrealistic — expectations.”
After practice concluded , the group huddled midcourt, heavily breathing but smiling. Three straight long practices had not broken their energy. If Wednesday was any indication, UTSA’s foundation is already forming in the grind, one rep, one cut and one stop at a time.
