Lady Hoops Fall Short in Thrilling Showdown Against Fifth-Ranked Texas

AUSTIN – The women’s basketball squad of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) faced a tough non-conference finale on Sunday, suffering a 94-35 defeat against the #5 Texas Longhorns at the Moody Center in Austin. 
 
Junior forward Charlotte O’Keefe achieved a game-high of 11 rebounds, while graduate student Kade Hackerott tallied a team-high of seven points, converting all three attempts at the free-throw line, spearheading UTRGV (6-7, 1-1 Southland Conference). Senior guard Tierra Trotter, freshman guard Gianna Angiolet and sophomore guard Jayda Holiman each contributed six points. 
 
 Kyla Oldacre led the #5 Texas squad (13-1, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) with 21 points, maintaining 100% shooting from the field. Madison Booker followed with 14 points, alongside seven rebounds and seven assists. 
 
The formidable Texas defense initiated the game strongly, restricting UTRGV to merely five points in the first quarter due to their aggressive full-court press. Nonetheless, the Vaqueros exhibited resilience, demonstrating a competitive second quarter where Texas marginally outscored UTRGV, 22-17. 
 
In the second quarter, UTRGV launched two scoring streaks, the first being five consecutive points after freshman guard Kayla Lorenz hit the squad’s first three-pointer, igniting the offense. The Vaqueros converted 5-of-6 free throws during the quarter, supporting a 6-0 scoring run. Holiman then drilled a three-pointer to reduce the deficit to 10 points at 29-19. Holiman added six points in the second, while Trotter contributed four, as the Vaqueros increased their pace and intensified their defense. 
 
Angiolet, a former Central Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year, netted consecutive baskets in her hometown during the middle of the third quarter. However, the Texas defense overpowered in the second half, limiting the Vaqueros to only 13 points, ensuring their victory. The Longhorns capitalized on 37 turnovers, scoring 47 points off these errors. 
 
Next on the schedule for UTRGV is their first SLC road encounter of the season. The Vaqueros will face Southeastern at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Support UTRGV Women’s Basketball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube

 

Read Full Article