Bound and rebound

Junior forward breaks single-season and career records

As another year of women’s basketball continues, the Vaqueros (13-13, 8-7 SLC) have seen one of the best individual seasons in the program’s history.

Junior forward Charlotte O’Keefe broke two program records in rebounding, setting UTRGV program highs for the most rebounds in a single season and for most in a career.

She broke the career program record with her 650th career rebound against Nicholls State University on Jan. 27, passing Hild Kjartansdottir’s 649 for first in the program.

Then, in a Feb. 6 game against Stephen F. Austin State University, O’Keefe broke the single-season mark with the 295th rebound in her 2024-25 season, passing Madison Northcutt’s 294 rebounds in 2018-19. 

She is also among the best rebounders in the country, as she is third in total rebounds (304), fourth in rebounds per game (12.2), seventh in defensive rebounds (191) and fifth in offensive rebounds (113).

In an interview with The Rider, O’Keefe said although it was “cool” to break the record, she did not come to UTRGV with that goal.

“It’s never something I go into a game trying to get an ‘x’ amount of rebounds to break a record or anything like that,” she said. “I’m just gonna keep adding to it, [but] the goal is always to win.”

Asked about O’Keefe breaking the rebound record, UTRGV Women’s Basketball head coach Lane Lord said “it couldn’t have happened to a better person.”

“She’s probably our hardest worker,” Lord said. “First one in the gym, last one to leave. She’s just a self-made player who’s worked hard for three years.”

Lord said having a dynamic rebounder like O’Keefe is “big time” for the team, saying she gets extra possessions on offense and is a huge help on defense.

“She does such a great job on the offensive boards and she can kick it out and get open threes or another possession,” he said. “On the defensive end, it’s just like she has a magnet to her. She knows where the ball is gonna go to start the fast break.”

Graduate guard/forward Kade Hackerott told The Rider she is “really proud” of O’Keefe for breaking the records and that “her presence just can’t be ignored” while she’s on the court.

“[The records] are a testament to her hard work and dedication and reflects exactly what she’s put into this program,” Hackerott said. “She does so many of the little things … even outside [the stats] she really makes a huge impact for us.”

Hackerott also said O’Keefe was a great teammate and essential to building a winning culture around the program.

“She’s such a good teammate and friend,” she said. “Really just goes to build that culture that we’re looking to build and she’s a vital piece of that.”

Lord was impressed that O’Keefe broke those records in her junior season. He hopes that, with a year of eligibility remaining, she could reach 1,000 career rebounds.

“We’re tickled to death to have her next year,” he said. “Not many people in the country have [1,000 rebounds]. We’re pretty excited for her.”