BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Ereauna Hardaway scored 15 points as Texas-San Antonio defeated East Carolina 54-44 in a women’s NCAA Division I game Friday at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The Roadrunners used a 21-point fourth quarter to pull away from the Pirates in the American Athletic Conference contest. East Carolina’s Kennedy Fauntleroy scored 12 points. Texas-San Antonio improved to 17-15, while East Carolina fell to 22-10. The Roadrunners avenged a January loss to the Pirates.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by grit over grace, the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners avenged a regular-season loss by stifling the East Carolina Pirates 54-44 on Friday in an American Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament game at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The most important part of the game unfolded not in a single explosive run, but in a sustained, suffocating defensive effort across the final three quarters. After a competitive first period ended with UTSA leading 15-12, the game descended into a physical battle of attrition. The Roadrunners’ defense, anchored by the interior presence of 6-foot-3 forward Mia Hammonds, locked down the Pirates, holding them to just 32 points over the final 30 minutes. East Carolina, which entered the game with a 22-9 record, was plagued by poor shooting throughout. The Pirates managed only 10 points in both the third and fourth quarters, unable to find any consistent rhythm against an aggressive UTSA scheme. Kennedy Fauntleroy led East Carolina with 12 points, while Jayla Hearp added 11 and Keanna Rembert contributed 10. The Roadrunners, meanwhile, relied on the dynamic play of guard Ereauna Hardaway to generate just enough offense. Hardaway, a 5-foot-8 junior from Jonesboro, Arkansas, scored a game-high 15 points and dished out four assists, often creating opportunities for herself and others against a stubborn East Carolina defense. Her backcourt mate, Damara Allen, provided crucial support with six points and three assists. While UTSA’s offense was far from fluid, a balanced scoring attack proved sufficient. Center Cheyenne Rowe, a 6-foot-2 junior from Ajax, Canada, scored 11 points and grabbed several key rebounds. Forward Idara Udo added 10 points, and Hammonds chipped in nine points to go along with three blocked shots, altering countless others in the paint. The game’s pivotal sequence came late in the third quarter as East Carolina tried to mount a challenge. After a technical foul on Fauntleroy, Hardaway sank a free throw to push the UTSA lead to 33-32 heading into the final period. The Roadrunners then seized control for good with a decisive 8-2 run to open the fourth quarter. A hook shot from Rowe, a layup by Udo, and a driving layup from Hardaway stretched the advantage to 41-36 with just over six minutes to play, forcing an East Carolina timeout. The Pirates never recovered. Their shooting woes persisted, and UTSA methodically extended its lead at the free-throw line down the stretch, ultimately holding East Carolina to its lowest scoring output of the season. The victory improved Texas-San Antonio’s record to 17-15 and advanced the Roadrunners in the conference tournament. East Carolina’s season ends at 22-10. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, the Pirates had been projected with a 50.30 percent probability to win the contest. Texas-San Antonio will look to continue its tournament run on Saturday.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — A surging Texas-San Antonio squad will look to continue its postseason run when it faces a formidable East Carolina team in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The No. 8-seeded Roadrunners (16-15) arrive having won three straight games, including a 62-51 victory at South Florida on Thursday in their most recent outing. They will face the No. 1-seeded Pirates (22-9), who last played on March 7, earning a 76-61 road win at Tulsa. UTSA’s momentum is fueled by guard Cheyenne Rowe, who is coming off a 25-point performance in 35 minutes against South Florida. Over her last eight games, Rowe is averaging 14.4 points, including a 23-point, 8-rebound effort in a narrow loss at Wichita State on Feb. 21. East Carolina counters with its own dynamic guard in Kennedy Fauntleroy. The Pirates’ floor general is averaging 14.8 points and 5.8 assists over her last six contests. She nearly posted a double-double with 14 points and nine assists in a double-overtime loss at Memphis on Feb. 25 and dished out eight assists in each of her last two games. The teams met once during the regular season, with East Carolina securing a 65-58 road win in San Antonio on Jan. 20. The Pirates have won seven of their last 10 games overall, though two of those losses came in their final two home contests. UTSA’s late-season push has been keyed by improved defense, holding opponents to an average of 54.3 points during its current three-game win streak. East Carolina’s offense has been consistent, scoring at least 74 points in four of its last six victories. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, East Carolina holds a narrow 50.30 percent probability to win Friday’s contest. Tipoff is scheduled for Friday, March 13, 2026.