In many cases, UTSA women’s basketball coach Kristen Holt anticipated what was about to happen. The players who stayed were the ones who were caught off guard.  

In the months following last year’s 7-21 season, including a 2-14 mark in Conference USA, five players decided to transfer out of the program. Among them was Marie Benson, the team’s only all-conference selection as a second-team pick who averaged 15.2 points and a school-record 10.7 rebounds per game. 

Barbara Benson, Marie’s sister, also left after averaging 5.2 points and 2.5 boards per game. Ryann Stearns, the team’s fourth-leading scorer with 7.0 points per game, was among the group who chose to depart, as well.  

The turnover leaves UTSA with a roster of six returners and eight newcomers facing an uphill battle to rebuild in Holt’s third season at the helm.  

“I don’t think they saw it coming,” Holt said. “They were a little surprised that it happened. But I really feel that once they got used to the idea that, ‘OK, they’re not going to be here,’ they all really got on board. I’ve been really happy with the returners and their buy-in. The culture is a lot different.” 

Building that culture, and finding players who fit, has been Holt’s primary focus since she took the job in August 2017. Coming in so late in the process that year, Holt said the program basically lost a season of recruiting.  

The lack of roster depth proved costly when the Roadrunners lost two players to season-ending injuries last year. Competition for playing time was limited, and UTSA was lucky if it could hold a five-on-five practice.  

“We had a bad record last year, but I think in the long run it will probably be a really good decision that we chose to do it that way and took our lumps,” Holt said.  

Now, the Roadrunners have a group of players who want to be coached and can handle criticism — “something we’ve been missing in this program for a long time,” Holt said.  

Athletic 6-foot-1 senior forward Tija Hawkins is the team’s leading returning scorer and rebounder with 12.7 points and 5.8 boards per game. Karrington Donald is back for her junior year after ranking third on the team with 7.9 points per game last season, and Holt said she expects Donald to become a more productive scorer with a move to the wing.  

UTSA ranked 344th of 349 Division I teams with 3.3 3-pointers per game last season and was 346th with a 23.7 3-point shooting percentage. Holt said UTSA’s newcomers can spark a turnaround in that area. Freshmen Charlene Mass and Mikayla Woods are both in the mix to start at point guard, and Karley Larson adds a shooting threat from the wing as a transfer who ran track and cross country at Kansas State last year.  

The Roadrunners also added Texas Tech transfer forward Kiara Shoals, who Holt said could be a starter if she is granted immediate eligibility.  

Preseason MVP: 
Senior forward Tija Hawkins. The team’s leading returning scorer and rebounder should be in for a strong season if she can handle increased attention from opponents and sustain through knee issues that may limit her workload in practice.  

Game of the Year: Jan. 2 vs. FAU
UTSA will want to show signs of progress as it opens the C-USA season against one of the teams it tied for last place in 2018-19.  

Impact First-Year Player:
Karley Larson