Vaqueros defeat Cardinals by 22 points

The UTRGV Women’s Basketball Team won against the University of the Incarnate Word 59-37 tonight at the Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus.

The Vaqueros (13-13, 8-7 Southland) were highly pressured by the Cardinals (14-10,9-6 Southland) throughout all four quarters, ping-ponging back and forth throughout the game.

Head coach Lane Lord said they were playing great defensively with 21% shooting.

“We really did a great job all night long defensively, and we rebounded the ball pretty well,” Lord said. “We had five different players make three [pointers] tonight. That’s pretty cool.”

Kade Hackerott, graduate guard/forward totaled up four 3-pointers out of seven attempts, with a total of 14 points.

“I think we are playing well right now,” Hackerott said. “We are playing hard; we are playing for each other and I think it is really showing on the court. We only have five games left, so we have to enjoy it while it lasts.”

Lord said he thinks the team is in really good shape right now, and recognizes practice is important for the upcoming game.

“I think we will keep the pace up,” he said. “Hopefully, we get [points] in the 70’s or 80’s on Saturday. That’s our goal.”

The game started off with the Vaqueros winning the tipoff and proceeded intensely with both teams fighting back and forth for possession of the ball.

The Cardinals were seemingly very strong at the beginning, having junior guard Jorja Elliot make the first shot of the night three minutes in. 

With the visiting team in the lead with 4 points, Vaqueros freshman guard Kayla Lorenz shoots the first 3-pointer of the night, with many more to come.

With only two minutes left of the first quarter, UIW started playing sloppy in its game in comparison to its strong start. 

The first quarter then came to an end with a score of 17-10 in favor of UTRGV.

The Vaqueros started off the second quarter strong with a 3-pointer from Hackerott.

Ja’Shelle Johnson, UTRGV sophomore guard, had a great second quarter as she was quick and weaving through players in order to get in her buckets, but to no avail.

Teammate sophomore guard Madison Huhn was also playing well, having made a beautiful 3-pointer that smoothly went into the net.

As half time rolled around, UTRGV led the game 29-16.

Minutes into the third quarter, Hackerott stole the ball from UIW only to quickly get it taken away from graduate guard Dorian Norris; however, Norris fumbled the play by missing the opportunity to make the basket.

The third quarter ended 48-22.

The fourth quarter started with complaints from all over the Fieldhouse as Cardinals graduate guard Myra Bell took a free shot due to a technical foul on Vaqueros graduate forward Chynell Mitchell from a play in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter led like the previous quarters, being as intense as ever and the clock ticking away the time. For one last hoorah, Hackerott made her final 3-pointer of the night to close out the game. 

The traditional Burning of the Letters was held in Lot E-16, outside the Fieldhouse, after the game ended, bringing a massive crowd to watch the event.

UTRGV’s next game will be 2 p.m. Saturday against Houston Christian University at the Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus.