AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 10, 2025

Karen Aston

Jordyn Jenkins

Dickies Arena

UTSA Roadrunners

Postgame Press Conference

Rice - 62, UTSA - 58

THE MODERATOR: We'll go ahead and get started with an opening statement from Coach and then take questions for the student-athletes.

KAREN ASTON: Sure. Well, I think sometimes you obviously need a little bit of time to reflect on a loss like this. I mean, my first impression is just credit to Rice. I thought that they played with a lot of intention, a lot of energy today, and we couldn't seem to match it. We tried. I thought there were times that we tried to rally ourselves in timeouts, but we just couldn't match the energy that they played with today.

I thought they were quicker to the ball, shot the ball, obviously, better than we did today, and I thought that we tried to change some things up, change some schemes, but again, we just couldn't match what Rice brought today.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach. Questions, please?

Q. What was your message to your team in the locker room after this one?

KAREN ASTON: It's always hard and there's been times throughout this season that I've told them when you get to this point, whenever it is, whenever you're playing in a disappointing game in a tournament, and luckily for us it's not -- I don't think it's our last game. But when you get to that disappointing loss, sometimes they can't really hear what you're saying, so I'm selective with that because they're disappointed, understandably so.

But I don't want this to take away from how proud that we all are of what they have achieved this year. I thought that we looked like a team today that just couldn't match the energy, for whatever reason, and I don't know what that is. If I could have fixed it, I honestly would have. But I couldn't figure out a combination or a scheme that would answer the way Rice played today.

Q. Just to confirm, you do not believe this is going to be the last game of the season for you guys?

KAREN ASTON: No, I don't.

Q. Do you believe that this team has a case for an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament or where do you stand on that front at this moment?

KAREN ASTON: I did feel like that it was necessary for us to win a game or two in the tournament, so I'm a little bit indifferent. I would like to think that the run that we had in the tournament -- I mean, in conference play would show that. It's a tough ride. I mean, that's what I think is very unfortunate about regular conference champions not getting automatics because -- I mean, that's a lot harder, to me, to play the 18 games and go 17-1, the way that we did. I'm going to be really, really disappointed, but there's not a whole lot I can do about that. We've pled our case, and I'll hope for the best and if not, then I think we're an automatic for the WBIT as far as from what I understand.

Q. How did you feel about the team's mentality overall coming into the game today? Did you think they felt pressure at the moment or how did you feel coming in?

KAREN ASTON: That's a good question. I don't know that I necessarily can answer that. I'll be as honest as I can because you guys know that's how I am. I didn't think our prep was great this week and I couldn't figure out if it was an exhale of finishing out the regular season and we just couldn't get our competitive juices flowing again. I don't think it was arrogance. We have no reason to be in that category as a program. We should continually be hungry for what's next, and I don't think that was it.

I just don't know if we just couldn't get the juices flowing again after we took a day or two off after we left East Carolina. I mean, obviously, that was a long road trip. That's why I continue to say that I think 18 games is a body of work that should be respected.

Q. Jordyn, you had a little bit of a slow start today but then kind of got it going. Can you take me through your game from your perspective. What did you see?

JORDYN JENKINS: I don't know, I think I just wasn't really making shots. I had the wrong spin on the ball a little bit in the first half. But just trying to stay consistent and keep shooting shots worked out for me in the second half, I guess.

Q. What are the emotions of this moment like for you to kind of put together the season you guys did and then have it fall short in this time?

JORDYN JENKINS: A little disappointed right now, but we've had a legendary season this whole entire four or five months we've been playing, so I'm proud of my team.

Q. Can you talk about Jordyn being Player of the Year in this conference and what that means. I know it may not be right time or place, but certainly want to give you the chance to expound on her and what she's done this year.

KAREN ASTON: Well, it's always the right time to talk about a player that's as special as Jordyn is. There's never a bad time. She's been monumental for the growth of our program, and the rise that we've had has been centered around her the talent she has and the leadership that she's shown this year. I mean, my guess is that her jersey will probably be in the rafters at some point and that's what you wish for players. You want their career to play out the way that they dream about it playing out, and I think she dreams really, really big and should continue to do so. I mean, I think she's a pro in every sense of the word, and I appreciate and love her more than she can ever imagine.

Q. Jordyn, your thoughts on that. The list of Players of the Year in this conference is pretty impressive company to keep. Can we get your thoughts on how you made out this season.

JORDYN JENKINS: Yeah, this conference has been tough playing in, and teams have been showing us who they are, and it's just been battles every game. So, yeah, playing against really good 4 players, we just played against some really good guards. So, yeah, there's a lot of competition in this conference and I'm grateful that I got it, and, yeah.