SAN ANTONIO — There are no trades in college athletics, but UTSA women’s basketball and the University of North Texas pulled off the closest thing to a trade in the 2025 offseason.
The Roadrunners (10-9, 5-3 AC) and Mean Green (11-10, 5-4 AC) swapped point guards in the transfer portal. Aysia Proctor, a rising star for the ‘Runners, joined North Texas; UTSA matched the move by signing senior stalwart Ereauna Hardaway.
Coming into this rivalry matchup, Proctor leads the Mean Green with 13.6 points per game. In the much-anticipated homecoming game, the Roadrunners stifled and frustrated Proctor, holding her to just four points en route to a 66-64 win over North Texas on Wednesday at the Convocation Center.
“It was hard,” coach Karen Aston said of facing Proctor for the first time. “I recruited her. I know her family, and I love her. I am proud of her. I think she’s played extremely well this year, and we knew we needed to respect her ability. I thought we did that tonight.”
UTSA trailed by six heading into the second quarter after shooting just 20% from the field in the opening quarter. Hardaway kept the Roadrunners afloat by scoring five of the team’s six opening period points. In the second quarter, UTSA came alive.
Five different Roadrunners found the net as UTSA surged to take a 26-18 lead over North Texas. Senior forward Cheyenne Rowe led the team with nine points while the ‘Runners’ defense stepped up and held the Mean Green to just 13% from the field.
The Roadrunners rode Rowe’s hot hand into the second half where she kept UTSA ahead with eight points. Junior forward Idara Udo returned to action for the first time since the Roadrunners matchup against Texas A&M University – Kingsville and added four points as the game headed into the final quarter.
“Her energy is from experience, confidence from experience,” Aston said of Udo. “She definitely has an energetic and enduring personality.”
In the fourth, North Texas rallied and outscored UTSA 36-20 to cut its deficit to two with 27 seconds left. Mean Green guard Mekhia Chase proceeded to drill a clutch three to give North Texas a one point lead. UTSA matched with the go-ahead jumper from sophomore guard Damara Allen to seal the win.
“What was going through my head was ‘Go through the play, shoot the shot and hopefully it goes in,’” Allen said after the game. “Crashing hard after, getting my own rebound and putting back the shot was key, and it just went in.”
Rowe’s 27 points led the team; Hardaway finished second to Rowe with nine points. Rowe led in rebounds with 11 while Hardaway and Allen tied for the lead in assists with five a piece. UTSA held Proctor to 12% from the field.
UTSA will remain home to face Rice University at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center.
