Texas-San Antonio capitalized on a technical foul call to score a game-winning layup in the final seconds to stun the Lady Tigers 70-68 at the University of Memphis Elma Roane Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
After trading leads in the second half, the Roadrunners grabbed the advantage for good when Jordyn Jenkins sank a pair of technical free throws with 12.9 seconds left in the game. UTSA scored their final five points from the charity stripe.
The technical occurred after Memphis senior forward Alasia Smith scored a layup to put the Tigers up 66-65. As both teams hustled to their benches during a timeout, Tigers’ guard Tanyuel Welch shoved UTSA forward Idara Udoh after they collided near the Memphis huddle. A technical foul was assessed on Welch.
Following a pair of free throws, UTSA’s Sidney Love Smith sank another layup with two seconds left to narrow the margin to 69-68. Jenkins sank another free throw with two seconds left to put the Roadrunners up 70-68.
Memphis guard Tilly Boler’s three-point attempt, shot from the corner, rimmed out as time expired.
Neither Welch nor Memphis coach Alex Simmons were available for comment at the game’s conclusion.
With three minutes to go, Memphis held a 61-50 lead that seemed insurmountable. UTSA rallied by utilizing an unrelenting press defense that halted Memphis offense by forced several turnovers. Both teams had nine steals on the evening.
Jenkins scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for UTSA. Idara Odo added 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Damara Allen and Aysia Proctor both finished 11 points.
The game’s ending soured an overall solid performance from Memphis, who overwhelmed the Roadrunners with their swarming defense in the first half. Memphis raced into intermission with a 32-26 advantage on the strength of 12 forced turnovers. The Lady Tigers limited UTSA to a 26 percent shooting from the floor.
Boler scored 19 points to lead the Tigers. Alasia Smith, who finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds, fought off foul trouble for one of her best games of the season. DeeDee Hagemann and Welch added 11 points apiece.
UTSA balanced out their first half struggles by shooting 50 percent in the second half, maneuvering through a previously sweltering Tigers defense.
The Roadrunners’ record climbs to 15-2, 6-0 AAC. Memphis falls to 3-13, 1-4.
Memphis will have a chance to get back on the winning path when they travel to New Orleans to square off against the Tulane Green Wave on January 18. Tipoff is at 2 p.m.
