SAN ANTONIO (Interstat) — The Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners used a dominant start and a decisive third-quarter run to pull away from the Memphis Tigers, securing a 67-55 victory in an American Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at the Convocation Center.

The most important stretch of the game came early in the third quarter, when the Roadrunners transformed a narrow five-point halftime lead into a commanding double-digit advantage. Leading 30-25 at the break, Texas-San Antonio opened the second half with a 12-2 surge, fueled by interior scoring and stifling defense. Idara Udo and Cheyenne Rowe each scored inside during the run, which pushed the lead to 42-27 and forced Memphis into a series of rushed possessions. The Tigers never recovered, as the Roadrunners maintained at least a nine-point cushion for the remainder of the contest.

Udo, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Plano, Texas, was the catalyst for Texas-San Antonio, scoring a game-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and grabbing 7 rebounds in just 23 minutes. Her efficiency in the paint set the tone, especially during the critical third-quarter expansion. Rowe, a 6-foot-2 senior from Ajax, Canada, added 16 points and 9 rebounds, while guards Adriana Robles of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and Ereauna Hardaway of Jonesboro, Arkansas, chipped in 9 and 11 points, respectively. Robles also dished out a game-high 5 assists.

Memphis was led by guard Daejah Richmond, who logged 39 minutes and finished with 17 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Amauri Williams provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, and forward Paris Gaines added 9 points and 7 rebounds. The Tigers’ offense, however, never found a consistent rhythm, hampered by poor shooting and turnovers.

The game’s trajectory was established in the opening quarter. Texas-San Antonio raced out to an 18-10 lead after one period, capitalizing on early Memphis turnovers and establishing control of the boards. The Roadrunners’ physical defense limited the Tigers to just 20-of-62 shooting from the field for the game, a frigid 32.3 percent. Memphis also connected on only 5 of 21 attempts from three-point range.

Conversely, Texas-San Antonio shot 44.3 percent from the floor, making 27 of 61 attempts. While they attempted only nine three-pointers, making three, they dominated points in the paint and second-chance opportunities, out-rebounding Memphis 45-36 overall and securing 12 offensive boards.

Memphis showed brief flashes of resistance, using an 11-2 run in the second quarter to close within three points at 25-22. A late push in the third, highlighted by a Brooklyn Alexander three-pointer and a driving layup from Kennedi Alexander, cut the deficit to nine, but the Roadrunners answered each mini-run with scores of their own to maintain separation.

The Tigers’ defensive pressure did force 19 Roadrunner turnovers, leading to 11 steals, but they could not convert those extra possessions into enough points on the other end. Memphis committed 14 turnovers of its own and managed only 11 assists on its 20 made field goals.

With the win, Texas-San Antonio improved to 13-14 overall and evened its conference record. Memphis fell to 9-20 on the season, continuing a difficult campaign. The Roadrunners avenged a 52-40 loss to the Tigers in Memphis back on Jan. 23.

A crowd of 1,023 at the Convocation Center saw the Roadrunners execute a more efficient offensive game plan, posting an offensive rating of 88.1 points per 100 possessions compared to Memphis’s 73.6. The victory gives Texas-San Antonio momentum heading into its final week of the regular season, while Memphis will look to regroup before its next outing.