The UTSA Roadrunners secured their first American Athletic Conference (AAC) championship title since joining the conference by defeating the Rice Owls 54-40 on Saturday. Ereauna Hardaway and Cheyenne Rowe each scored 13 points for UTSA, while Idara Udo added 11 points. The Roadrunners held Rice to a season-low score, marking their lowest scoring game of the year.
Key Takeaways
UTSA defeated Rice 54-40 to win the American Conference championship title in a low-scoring game on Saturday. UTSA's Ereauna Hardaway and Cheyenne Rowe each scored 13 points, while Idara Udo added 11 points. The Roadrunners held Rice to a season-low score and clinched their first conference title since joining the American Athletic Conference.
- UTSA wins American Conference title with 54-40 victory over Rice
- Ereauna Hardaway and Cheyenne Rowe each scored 13 points for UTSA
- Idara Udo contributed 11 points in the championship game
- Rice's Hailey Adams was the only player in double figures with 12 points
UTSA led 20-13 at halftime, recording the lowest-scoring half in AAC tournament history. Rice briefly closed the gap to 24-20 in the third quarter but UTSA responded with a 10-0 run, which included five points from Udo. The Roadrunners maintained a double-digit lead for most of the game.
Hailey Adams was the only player for Rice to score in double figures, finishing with 12 points. This victory marks UTSA's first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2009 season when they were members of the Southland Conference. The Roadrunners have now clinched their sixth conference championship appearance overall.
UTSA's defense has been a key factor in their success, allowing just 58.8 points per game while holding opponents to 37.6% shooting. They previously defeated East Carolina 54-44 on Friday night, also holding the Pirates to their lowest scoring total of the season.
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