The UTRGV Women’s Basketball Team (13-13, 3-8 WAC) defeated Utah Valley University (10-16, 4-7 WAC) 71-64 Saturday night in the Fieldhouse.
Utah Valley opened the match with a 3-pointer by guard Britta Spencer at the 9:11 mark.
UTRGV quickly amped its offense, but its quick response ended costing them three fouls three minutes into the first quarter, which resulted in four free throws for the rival team from which Utah Valley scored three, giving it the lead at 6-0.
The stakes were high and a crowd of 750 people experienced how the game started to get heated as both teams tried to overpower each other.
UTRGV tied 7-7 at 5:40 during the first quarter with a 3-pointer from forward Alicia McCray and then took the lead thanks to a free throw by forward Laura Van Tilburg at 4:32.
The game was moving rather quickly and the Vaqueras only had the lead for a couple of seconds as Utah Valley guard Alexis Cortez tied the game 8-8 for the rival team at 4:03 with a free throw, but UTRGV guard Idil Turk reacted and scored a 3-pointer, paving the road to a stable lead for the Vaqueras from 3:49 until the end of the first quarter.
The first quarter ended in favor of UTRGV with Daniela Azubell being the one who settled the final score 16-12 with a 3-pointer seconds after she stepped in for the first time during the game and with five seconds to go.
Fifteen seconds into the second quarter, the scoreboard got started by Utah Valley guard Gabrielle Leos with a 3-pointer, putting the game 16-15 with UTRGV at the lead, but then the Wolverines were able to tie 18-18 at 7:34 with a 3-pointer from guard Ally Bates.
Utah was clearly breathing down the Vaqueras’ neck for the whole second quarter, as it was one point from drawing the game four times at 19-18, 20-19, 22-21 and 24-23.
Nonetheless, UTRGV remained calm and ended the quarter on a positive note with forward Krisynthia Sampson scoring a layup seven seconds before going to halftime.
“We have confidence in each other and I have confidence in every single girl in this team and we showed we had each other’s back,” Vaquera forward Megan Johnson said. “Things went our way, things didn’t go our way, but we just kept going and that’s really important in difficult situations.”
At the half, UTRGV had five steals, six assists, 21 rebounds and the lead at 26-23.
The second half started with a layup from McCray at 9:00, putting the score at 28-23.
UTRGV’s exceptional teamwork and offense entitled them to a well-deserved lead for the whole third quarter.
Utah started the feeling the pressure and the area under its goal became crowded as it tried to amp its offense, but that didn’t stop the Vaqueras and the goals kept coming and racking up against the rival team.
However, it didn’t take long for Utah to realize that its technique was working. UTRGV got really close several occasions, but the Wolverines’ defensive line seemed impenetrable toward the end of the third quarter.
UTRGV started to lose focus and the Wolverines surely took advantage. UTRGV’s score stayed at 37 from 4:41 to 1:18 until Valeria Tapia scored a free throw.
During the fourth quarter, both teams kept going back and forth, drawing and taking the lead interchangeably on several occasions.
With less than 55 seconds to go, the game was tied 60-60, so UTRGV needed a quick plan to pierce through the Wolverines’ ruthless offense if it wanted to take the win.
After a 30-second timeout, both teams came back to the court and Utah was clearly making time around the field goal area looking for an opportunity to close the game with a victory.
The Vaqueras were truly focused as they tried to impede Utah’s movement of the ball while careful not to commit any errors that could cost them a foul that would end up in a free throw.
The game was halted once again and when the teams came back to the court, Utah implemented the same technique, but this time the movement of the ball was even faster.
The Wolverines tried to close in on UTRGV’s offense by moving the ball horizontally from one side to the other, but the Vaqueras didn’t fall into the trap and kept a wide-half circle defense around the goal that forced Utah to attempt a 3-pointer as the time approached zero.
The game was granted five extra minutes and UTRGV took possession of the ball as soon as the game started; however, the Vaqueras lost it after attempting to score.
Utah came close to the goal area but UTRGV redeemed itself by recovering the ball and taking the lead 62-60 with a layup by guard Amara Graham.
The Vaqueras seized the given opportunities and took the win at home 71-64 after an intense game.
Next up, UTRGV women’s basketball will travel to University of Missouri-Kansas City to face the Kangaroos at 7 p.m. Thursday.
