Hardaway, Rowe set pace as UTSA defense swarms in 54-40 win over Rice for American Conference title

UTSA Makes History with American Conference Title Win

In a stunning upset, UTSA claimed their first American Conference title and secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament with a 54-40 victory over top-seeded Rice. Ereauna Hardaway and Cheyenne Rowe led the way for the Roadrunners, each scoring 13 points in the low-scoring affair.

Idara Udo chipped in with 11 points for the No. 6 seed UTSA, who dominated defensively and held Rice to their lowest score of the season. Hailey Adams was the lone bright spot for the Owls, finishing with 12 points as the team struggled to find their offensive rhythm.

UTSA took control early, building a 20-13 lead at halftime in what was a defensive battle. The Roadrunners stifled Rice’s offense and never relinquished their lead, going on a crucial 10-0 run in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. Damara Allen’s basket with just over five minutes remaining effectively sealed the victory for UTSA.

This win was particularly sweet for UTSA, as they had previously handed Rice their only conference loss of the season in a 61-52 upset back in March. The Roadrunners’ strong defensive performance carried over from their semifinal win over East Carolina, where they held the Pirates to a season-low 44 points.

UTSA last made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2009 as a member of the Southland Conference, and this victory marks their sixth conference championship appearance overall. The Roadrunners have now achieved an even record in conference championship play, with previous titles coming in 2008 and 2009.

Fans can stay updated on UTSA’s journey through the NCAA Tournament by signing up for poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25. For more women’s college basketball coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball.