Texas Border Business
GREELEY, Colorado – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s basketball team rallied back from a 13-point deficit to take a late lead before falling to the Northern Colorado Bears 60-58 on Tuesday at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Sophomore Sara Bershers led the Vaqueros (0-3) with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Graduate student Taylor Muff scored eight points with nine rebounds and three steals against her former institution.
Hannah Simental led the Bears (1-2) with 14 points. Callie Boyles scored 13 points with seven rebounds. Jaiden Galloway finished with 10 points.
The Bears jumped out to a 17-4 lead over the opening seven and a half minutes. Back-to-back Muff jumpers, however, opened a 6-2 run to bring the Vaqueros within 19-10 at the start of the second quarter.
The Vaqueros chipped away, climbing to within 31-23 on a Bershers three-pointer toward the end of the half.
The Bears extended their lead to 33-23 at the start of the third quarter before the Vaqueros went on an 11-2 run, capped by another Bershers three, to pull within 35-34.
The Vaqueros tied the game at 39 on Bershers free throws and again at 42 on a free throw by graduate student Burcu Soysal.
The Vaqueros took a 44-43 lead when Bershers opened the fourth quarter with a layup, but the Bears responded with a 12-2 run to take a 55-46 lead midway through the quarter.
The Vaqueros scored the next seven points to pull within 55-53 on a three by sophomore Halie Jones with 2:04 remaining. Then, down 59-53, Soysal made a layup and Jones sunk three free throws to make the score 59-58 with 21 seconds left,
UTRGV is back in action on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the home opener against McNeese State at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com. The party starts in Vaquero Village at 12:30 p.m. Those unable to attend the game in person can watch in the United States on ESPN+ or internationally on the WAC Digital Network.
