Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER
The UTRGV Women’s Basketball Team is set to play a home exhibition match against St. Mary’s University at 2 p.m. Nov. 4, followed by an away game against Texas Tech University at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 in Lubbock.
Head coach Lane Lord said the new players have been integrating well into the team and credits the veterans who helped them settle in.
“Our three freshmen are outstanding,” Lord said. “Ja’Shelle Johnson may start at the point for us. … Jayda Holiman is a dynamic player, too. … Taylor [Meyners] is one of our best shooters. … Kade Hackerott, coach Hackerott’s daughter, our associate head coach … she just brings experience. She’s been to three NCAA tournaments. … Faith Phillips, she’s a transfer out of St. Mary’s. … Nyajah Mitchels, 6-foot-4, she’s a proven player in the league.”
Mitchels, a graduate forward, said the Vaqueros will focus on communication, working hard and being team players going into the upcoming home game.
“Just continue to communicate and just work hard and at the end of the day, just play together as a team,” she said.
The team began its season with two exhibition matches in Puerto Rico. The team was victorious in both matches, beating the Hatillo Ganaderas 72-52 on Aug. 10 and the Bayamon Vaqueros 77-44 on Aug. 11.
Lord said he was looking forward to the exhibition against St. Mary’s to get the players on film and further develop their play.
“We can go back, critique the game and show them what we did great, show them what we got to work on,” he said. “So, everybody will play, probably an equal amount of time kind of like we did in Puerto Rico. … We want to play well, but we also want to learn from it. We’re ready to give our best at Texas Tech.”
Hackerott, a junior guard, said her goal was to help the team achieve more wins.
“Wins are the most fun thing you can do,” Hackerott said. “Accolades will come with that.”
Asked what it was like to play with her dad, assistant coach Kevin Hackerott, she replied it was fun to be with him.
Hackerott said she appreciates her dad’s coaching and making sure she and the team do well.
The team will be introduced at the annual UTRGV Madness event.
Mitchels, who wants to “play [her] heart out” and do her part to help the team win in her last year, said she looks forward to attending UTRGV Madness.
“Everybody come out and support us,” Mitchels said. “We’re really looking forward to a very good year this year. The bigger crowd and the more people we have, the better it’s going to be for us, you know, to amp up the hype and everything for us.”
Lord said UTRGV Madness is one of the funnest nights he has been a part of and looks forward to it every year.
“It’s the greatest event we have on campus,” he said. “It’s unbelievable … just to have all the student body here all cheering for the Vaqueros. We play some little games, 3-point shooting contests, free-throw contests. But really, it’s about meeting the students and the students meeting us.”
Lord said he encourages everyone to watch the home games and support UTRGV.
“What we’re doing in Athletics right now is at an all-time high,” the coach said. “Our administration is doing a wonderful job trying to get UTRGV Athletics to where people know who we are across the country. … We have to have our student body here. … That’s how you win games at home, is to have that crowd.”
Lord said the team’s goals are to finish top two in the conference and to be undefeated at home games.
“That also goes back to, we need the support from our student body and our boosters, and all that kind of stuff, but I think it starts right here at home,” he said.
The Vaqueros’ first Western Athletic Conference game will be against Grand Canyon University Nov. 29 in Phoenix.
For more information on UTRGV Athletics, visit goutrgv.com.
