The UTRGV Women’s Basketball Team (11-10, 5-3 WAC) defeated Grand Canyon University (5-14, 3-6 WAC) 49-42 tonight in their eighth Western Athletic Conference game.
The first half got off quickly with a couple of layups from both teams. UTRGV sophomore guard Amara Graham scored the first two points of the game.
For most of the first quarter, the game was tied 8-8. Vaqueras senior guard Quynne Huggins made a 3-pointer, followed by senior forward Madison Northcutt with a layup and a free-throw, putting their team ahead 11-8.
Late in the first quarter, the Antelopes made a 8-0 run, putting the score at 16-11. UTRGV came back to tie at 19 near the end of the second quarter.
After a layup by Graham, GCU scored a free-throw, finishing the first half at 20-19 in favor the Antelopes.
Midway through the third quarter, UTRGV came back to score a pair of layups by senior guard Jameka Dowell to take the lead, 27-24.
The game ended at 49-42 after Vaqueras senior forward Krisynthia Sampson hit a 3-pointer and Graham made another pair of free-throws, giving her team the victory.
Head Coach Lane Lord noted the offense and defense the team showed.
“Well, as long as you play defense, you always got chances to win games and we are just outstanding on defense,” Lord said. “No excuses at all, we just really struggled to score. We had a lot of open looks and you gotta give Grand Canyon a lot of credit. But, really, we just missed a lot of open shots.”
The next match for the Vaqueras will be at 7 p.m. Saturday against California State University, Bakersfield in the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
