Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s basketball team fell to the Tarleton State University Texans 79-63 in a non-conference game on Wednesday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
Graduate student Amara Graham led the Vaqueros (4-5) with 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Sara Bershers scored 11 points with a career-high tying seven rebounds. Junior Jessica Martino scored a career-high 11 points with a career-high four rebounds. Sophomore Halie Jones scored 10 points with a career-high tying nine rebounds and season-high three assists. Sophomore Jena’ Williams finished with 10 points.
Emily Cunningham led the Texans (4-10) with 20 points. Marissa Escamilla scored 17 points, with nine rebounds and two steals. Iyana Dorsey scored 16 points with nine assists and three steals.
The Vaqueros jumped out to a 9-6 lead over the first eight minutes. The Texans scored the next 12 points as part of a 25-5 run to go up 31-14 midway through the second quarter.
Then, with the score 33-16, Jones made a three as the Vaqueros scored seven-straight points. The Texans answered with a 6-2 run to go up 39-25.
Graham and Jones hit baskets right before halftime, kicking off a 15-0 run, capped by a Martin layup at the 6:34 mark of the third quarter, to put the Vaqueros up 40-39.
The Vaqueros extended their lead to 46-43 on a Bershers layup before the Texans went on a 7-0 run to regain the lead.
Graham responded with two layups to tie the game and then tied the game again in the final minute of the third with a three that made the score 53-53.
The Texans, however scored the next eight points as part of a 26-7 run to pull away.
UTRGV is set to open Western Athletic Conference play on Friday at 1 p.m. against California Baptist at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. UTRGV Athletics is capping capacity at the UTRGV Fieldhouse at 255 fans made up of current UTRGV students, season ticket holders, corporate partners, and families of student-athletes and coaches. Doors open at 12. For more information about game day, visit GoUTRGV.com/game-day.
Fans can also watch for free online at WACDigitalNetwork.com.
